Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Quarry development? Too big, outside developer, no residential, traffic


But don't fix the highway. 
Pacifica Tribune/Letters to the Editor, 8/15/12.  "The quarry quandary" by Gil Anda

"Edditor:  I liked the spirit of BJ Nathanson's letter urging all sides to compromise. However, after 30 years of failed attempts and stalled progress, I think it's safe to say that it's been tried and it's not working. The rub is that it's not just a question of aesthetics; it's also a question of economics. Economically a project has to be viable, otherwise it's not going to survive once developed.

No need to guess, the answer is still NO
What many voters don't get is that residential developments help support the commercial developments by being a source of customers, especially when what we want to create are pedestrian and bike friendly communities. But if the rhetoric is always against housing, or for limited housing, at a certain point it's not going to be worth doing. And that's where we're at now, after 30 years every qualified developer has walked away from the quarry. It's kind of how they cast their vote on the project.

Develop the quarry?  Develop what?
There's another benefit for larger residential communities worth mentioning besides the establishment of a commercial customer base. One of the key elements of a LEED ND development (the standard for energy efficiency in building design) calls for higher density residential developments close to transportation corridors. This facilitates the use of public transportation, which results in a reduction of the carbon footprint. However, a compromise on the number of residences allowed compromises on the carbon reducing benefits as well.

Peter Loeb has never spelled out the specifics of what an acceptable project would look like to him in the Quarry. It's always been a guessing game and, given the history to date, there is no expectation of a reasonable compromise within the camp of Peter Loeb and his friends. It's now just a question of how many will be willing to listen to him from this point on. We got close to making a change with the quarry initiative, Measure L, but obviously not close enough. However, for better or for worse, that's where the change has to come from with the quarry, from the voters. I don't expect compromise from the 'Friends of Pacifica' camp."

RelatedLoma Prieta Sierra Club resolution against developing Pacifica quarry.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who here thinks that if Measure L had passed that it meant that a quarry project was permitted?



Anonymous said...

Since I'm alone I'll have to say Not Me!

Hutch said...

Measure L would have allowed the 350 or so housing units that Peebles was proposing. So YES Anon 1258 ME and about half of Pacifica believes that because it's true.

If measure L was approved Peebles would have followed through with his promises as he has in every other major project. He's a highly awarded developer, recognized by the President and we were lucky to have him interested in our little town.

But the NIMBY's like Pete Loeb got together to perpetrate a lie on the people of Pacifica. Telling them of traffic horrors and a big bad outside developer.

Steve Sinai said...

Peebles still would have needed approval from agencies like the Coastal Commission and the city. If Measure L passed, it didn't mean he was cleared to go ahead and build.

The NIMBYs blatantly lied about Measure L giving Peebles permission to build.

Anonymous said...

Oh Sinai, come on you know how it is. They had to lie.

Anonymous said...

The question is very simple and does not involved personal issue or feelings. The answer requires nothing more than a simple I do or I don't.

Who here thinks that if Measure L had passed that it meant that a quarry project was permitted?

Anonymous said...

Of course the passage of Measure L would not mean that a project was permitted. It would only mean that a project with 355 housing units could be approved. What's your point?

Anonymous said...

Measure L would have only changed the zoning status of the quarry thus giving Peebles a windfall by reselling it. He never did build that ball field he promised, did he? Peebles counted on enough weak minded people to buy into his BS, some of them still believe it to this day.

Steve Sinai said...

^^^

Not true. Building the housing was conditional on the hotel and commercial being built. The only way Peebles could have made money from Measure L passing would be if the people he sold it to built the project he was proposing.

http://www.smartvoter.org/2006/11/07/ca/sm/meas/L/

Anonymous said...

Sinai

Remember you backed and approved of Whole Energy's Bio Diesel plant also!

keri santos said...

We all know Nancy Hall could have put her developer cap on(you know the one she was wearing during her 5th grade science project with Whole Energy) and she could have built the quarry.

A hippie gathering spot to smoke pot and sing songs and make clay pots, and draw 3rd grade paintings. Oh wait the Taxpayers subsidize the Sanchez Art Center for the hippies.

One of the local hippies even had a for profit business in the Sanchez Art Center. The guy who complained about the dog park ruining his business.

Too big outside developer? Who is Pacifica, is big enought to build out the quarry. Every General Contractor in town combined is not big enough to build out the quarry.

The hippies lied and twisted the truth enough to confuse the voters on Measure L.

The hippies are slowly losing control of the city. Time to crawl back under the Highway 1 bridge at Highway 1 hippie trolls and let the town file Chapter 9 Bankrutpy.

You ruined Pacifica.

Anonymous said...

@ Anon 10:47 PM

Weak minded people? Hmmm usually people that know they have zero argument resort to personal insults. Something Bray and Loeb do a lot. But hey if it makes you feel better about yourself.

So ask yourself this Mr/Mrs muscle mind. Does Don Peebles have any record of screwing over cities? No. In fact he's received awards and accolades from cities like Miami and New York.

So tell us how your superior reasoning led you to your conclusion? Please? Weak minds want to know?

Anonymous said...

In 2004, Peebles was elected as chairman of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and has been recognized by various organizations for his leadership and innovation. He has received numerous awards over the last 25 years for his entrepreneurial leadership, community service efforts and development abilities. Peebles’ most recent awards include Entrepreneur of the Year presented by Rev. Jesse Jackson at the 11th annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit; Corporate Citizen Award from One Hundred Black Men of New York;[3] the NV Award for Entrepreneurship;[3] the Hennessy Privilege Award for extraordinary community contributions; induction to the Martin Luther King International Board of Renaissance Leaders Hall of Fame at Morehouse College in Atlanta;[3] Community Leader Award from Russell and Danny Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation at their inaugural Art for Life event in Miami Beach;[3] the Reginald F. Lewis Award for Entrepreneurship;[3] and Corporate Honoree at Amsterdam News’ 100th Anniversary Gala alongside Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Congressman Charles Rangel and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Anonymous said...

Had Peebles built out the quarry we had a chance of Obama coming to Pacifica. The Hippies would have shown the President how Pacifica lives. In chicken coops not in massive mcmansions!

Hutch said...

Of course the project still would have to be approved by all overseeing agencies. But measure L would have allowed the housing and hotel to move forward through the system.

Anonymous said...

Stop rehashing Peebles/Measure L. It's way old news, it's irrelevant, and it's boring. You can't change the past. Learn from it and look to the future.

Anonymous said...

Hey Anon Anon 10:47 PM (and the rest of you Peeble a**-kissers) you asked: "Does Don Peebles have any record of screwing over cities?" Well see for yourself and then run to your bag of excuses for that lowlife.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2010/11/10/d-c-suing-don-peebles/

Anonymous said...

That's all you got? Weak sauce anon 1027 or Todd or Peter

Steve Sinai said...

"Weak sauce anon 1027"

Kinda' sounds like Hallman to me.

Anonymous said...

aka bhatman aka Linty Marr

Steve Sinai said...

"Sinai

Remember you backed and approved of Whole Energy's Bio Diesel plant also!"

I was being consistent, since I've always said Pacifica needs new businesses. It was the people who kept claiming they were pro-economic development, yet opposed this project because they didn't like its sponsor, who were inconsistent.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure there were some people who would oppose Nancy donating $1M to fight hunger just because she's Nancy, but most of the people against the project just opposed the city's involvement, and they were being completely consistent. If Whole Energy wanted to build their own grease refinery, more power to them. However, Vreeman and Nancy using (and subsequently losing) city funds on something where they had zero experience was borderline criminal.

It reminds me of the local geniuses who think they know how to run a REIT but would be more likely to run them out of town.

Anonymous said...

Sinai

You sound like campaign promises and empty sound bites.

Admit it. You where all for Whole Energy.

Anonymous said...

anon118 it's the same mind-set and similiar personalities. pretty predictable bunch. they want business just not that business or that business isn't run right and they should do this not that. oh no you can't build that there. wahwahwah

Hutch said...

Anonymous said...
"Hey Anon Anon 10:47 PM (and the rest of you Peeble a**-kissers"

I kind of wonder if some of you would still be attacking Peebles if he was a successful, highly honored, credible white man.

Steve Sinai said...

Anon@1:53 PM, I already said I was for it. Maybe you should read and think for a few seconds before you decide to attack.