Taxpayers for Responsible Land Use

Site 653 was the subject of previous San Diego City Council actions. They include the following:
- In 1975 the La Jolla Community Plan designated it as Open Space.
- In 1995 the Update to the La Jolla Community Plan, which was applicable outside the Coastal Zone confirmed that Open Space designation.
- In 2000, the City Manager was authorized to enter into exclusive negotiations with Hillel of San Diego for the ground lease of Site 653.
- In 2002, the La Jolla Community Plan Update changed the site's designation to low-density residential - in spite of the opposition of all community group's and the City's Planning Commission.
- In 2002, a resolution was passed to allow use of the street and public right of ways if a 10,000 sq. ft. aggregate area were set-aside as Open Space.
- In February and March 2005, the City of San Diego's Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial of the proposed project.
- September 27, 2005, the San Diego City Council continued the hearing of the Hillel Project, because Scott Peters said, he "didn't have the votes for the land sale".
- October and November (4 times) 2005, public comment was made to request prompt hearing of the Site 653/Hillel matter.
- May 9, 2006, the San Diego City Council approved the land sale and the proposed project with 25 conditions.
Site 653, which is about 15,000 sq. ft., has about 10,000 sq. ft. of buildable land, as a result of slope and public service easements.
Site 653 is constrained on two of the three sides. When the street rights of way surrounding the parcel were dedicated, access to the site was waived from La Jolla Village Drive and La Jolla Scenic Way (where the currently proposed garage entrance is).
The proposed project requires the vacation of an additional 21,000 sq. ft. of adjacent Street and Public Right of Way, including a 2-foot narrowing of the existing street's hardscape to squeeze in the proposed, clearly oversized development (footprint at least 20% greater than Site 653).
The proposed project is for a 12,000 sq. ft. student center with a maximum occupancy load of 900. The proposed institutional development now is required to provide only 68 parking spaces (a parking deficit of 200 parking space) in this already severely parking and traffic impacted and wholly, single-family residential neighborhood.
The center will be used for weekly religious services and congregate meals. The required (by City Council action) 10,000 sq. ft. aggregate of Open Space has not been clearly identified.
With the approval of the street and public right-of-way vacations, the existing neighborhood no longer has publicly dedicated access to the corner crossing to UCSD. It is limited to a 10-foot wide easement.
Two cash offers made at the May 9, 2006 hearing are substantually greater than the exclusive sale price granted Hillel by the City.

Site 653 Background Information