Pacifica Tribune Letters to the Editor, 5/21/13. "Palace coup" by BJ Nathanson
"Editor: It is with great distress that I hear of Council's decision to arbitrarily put all seven Planning Commission seats up for grabs at the end of the month. This is not democracy, it is a palace coup.
| Dinner ! |
| "Palace coup", something like the tea party taking over the Republican Party? |
The Council has also taken action to streamline the Planning Department's policies. While I agree that it was onerous to have single family dwellers go through a prolonged and expensive "process" in front of an overly zealous Commission, removing the Commission from meaningful surveillance is a grave mistake.
I understand the need for economic progress in these hard times, but we must not sacrifice the quality of life that we hold so dear in the name of that cause. The urbanization of Pacifica would be a permanent and irreparable loss. As guardians of the Coast, we have an obligation to see not only dollar signs. We must be stronger and better than that."
Posted by Kathy Meeh
She also had a fit and quit cause she didn't get her way on planning.
ReplyDeleteAnyone see Council going with all new? They have enough applicants and some pretty impressive ones, but that might be overkill. How big and bold a welcome mat do they need to put out for development?
ReplyDeleteDramanon @ 10;47 say that to BJ's face.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall 1047, she resigned on principle because she felt that some planning commissioners were allowed to rely too heavily on their personal ideologies instead of the actual city regulations while reviewing projects before them. There was no fit.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing the new planning commission ought to do is repeal that ridiculous monster house ordinance, or at least increase the square footage limit to well over 3000 sq. ft.
ReplyDeleteIf you watched the council meeting where it was decided what square footage threshold would trigger a planning commission review, you know the process was a farce. DeJarnatt was just throwing numbers out until one passed. In Pacifica, a monster house is one that's barely bigger than the average new house size in California.
This is another example of how the NIMBYs added more bureaucracy and red-tape to keep anyone from building here.
"This is not democracy" you're right, it is not. The planning commission seats are elected by City Council, not a vote of the citizens.
ReplyDelete"No single council has had the power to shape the entire commission at once, nor should it have that power" NOT TRUE. Every council has had the power to dismiss the planning commission entirely. And that power SHOULD reside entirely with an elected body of government. Council also has the power to vote out the Quarry poison pill and should do so immediately.
I am surprised that people like BJ and the Scootercon have served on the planning commission, but seem to have no understanding of its functions and responsibilities.
Steve Sinai seems to have no understanding of the planning commission's functions and responsibilities. The planning commission cannot repeal the monster house ordinance; only the City Council can (or the voters by referendum). If that's what you want to happen, you need to talk to council members.
ReplyDeleteOK, that's fair. The Planning Commission did lobby the council to implement the ordinance, although yes, it's ultimately council's call as to whether to repeal it.
ReplyDeleteWhich they should.
Can't replace the entire Planning Commission?! Anyone remember when the esteemed FOP took over council and immediately fired the entire commission to replace them with the likes of John Curtis? What about their hire of three city attorneys. Rewards to people like Hal Bohner. That was the start of Pacifica's decline, pure and simple.
ReplyDeleteYeah, momentum is going the other way. Hope council has the nerve to keep it going with an all-new planning commission. Then if something can be done about the quarry poison pill, do it. Let's see if we can't make something happen there. There are developers who can deal with the regulatory agencies. Two of the biggest, Trammell Crow and Peebles, were willing and able. And, for crying out loud, if the planning commission has the authority, give the dog folk their doggie beach at Sharp Park. They were robbed by their very own city council a few years back. Correct that travesty asap!
ReplyDeleteI don't get the owl picture.
ReplyDelete"...the owl..." Anonymous 8:29 AM
ReplyDeleteAn owl's understanding of a "palace coup" might be "dinner".
829 aren't you glad you asked?
ReplyDeleteNo, the owl makes even less sense after Kathy's explanation.
ReplyDeleteThe owl makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteElections have consequences.
ReplyDeleteGet over it.
Welcome to America!
ReplyDelete