Letters to the editor (Oct. 28): Vote no on Measure B

The development “Lilac Hills” in Measure B is not suitable for a rural area. Many people in this rural community have orchards, vineyards and horses. Building many homes here is completely out of character with the area and it is against the current county zoning laws.

The project would build around 1,700 homes in a mostly rural zone where current restrictions allow only about 100 homes to be built. This is unfair to the people who bought homes in the area based on those zoning laws.

Even more so, it’s unfair to let the entire county vote on something when the most of the people voting don’t live among the people of this area.

The good news is that the county did not approve their plan. The bad news is that now the vote goes to us; but we can do something about this. An objective analysis of the measure prepared by San Diego County indicated that the development would contribute significantly to regional traffic, likely leaving taxpayers with a bill of more than $1 Billion to address projected impacts.

Vote no on Measure B to protect the environment and preserve open spaces for the people of this fine north county inland community.

Steven Dusseau

Encinitas

Vote no on Measure T

In a few weeks, every voter will have the opportunity, and responsibility, to exercise their right to vote. Among the items on Encinitas ballots will be Measure T.

This measure was formulated by the City Planning Commission based on the expressed wishes of the City Council. Citizens’ input had very little impact on the final form of the measure. Despite the city’s propaganda, no genuine citizen input was received or considered in the process of preparing this measure.

Meetings billed as informational, and designed to elicit citizen input, were actually presentations of the city’s plan as a fait accompli. No serious discussions were had of the potentially disastrous impact of this much density increase to the city’s already over stressed infrastructure.

During the Environmental Review stage, I read the Environmental Impact Report underlying the Housing Element Update. I confined myself to the sections dealing with traffic and noise. What I read was a completely inadequate examination of existing traffic patterns, based on single event observations at specific intersections. Analysis of projected future impacts on traffic was based largely on CalTrans parameters which consider a less than 15-minute wait to access a freeway on ramp to be acceptable.

In addition to inadequate roadways, one of our biggest problems is parking, both commercial and residential. The lack of adequate off-street parking means many residential streets are effectively one way streets. Yet the city proposes to allow even less off-street parking in newer developments. While the idealistic basis of this may be to encourage people to walk, bike or use public transit, the real effect will be to make our streets even more congested, impassable and dangerous for those foolish enough to walk or bike.

I have lived in Cardiff for 30 years. I love this community and want to share it. I understand that growth is inevitable. A lot of it has occurred in the time I’ve lived here. But we must think about the existing quality of our infrastructure before we stack more houses and cars on the pile. The city must find a way to address the traffic, parking and noise issues we already have.

In her recent op-ed piece, Councilwoman Lisa Shaffer referred to the high cost of having to potentially defend litigation if Measure T is not passed. What about the cost of failing infrastructure? What about the failure of the measure to address in any real way the state’s actual mandate, which is to provide affordable housing for all citizens. That is not in any way built into Measure T. Higher density will provide smaller— but just as costly per square foot — units. It will do nothing to address the real housing needs of those who live 6 or 8 or 10 to a single-family property in some of our neighborhoods because they cannot afford anything else.

Let the city know all of its citizens need to have a voice in drafting a reality-based housing plan. Vote no on T.

Barbara Murray

Encinitas

The terrible Measure T

By now you will have received oversized cardboard shingles in the mail from pro-development groups urging you to vote yes on Measure T. But, if you really want to preserve your peaceful neighborhood, community character and quality of life, you must reject Measure T. It is bad for the city. It is bad for you. And it does not provide affordable housing.

All five Council members have aligned themselves with the building industry and want to disenfranchise you from having a voice in the future of your beach community. They have become useful lackeys by selling your rights out to greedy developers. They even overturned their own ordinances to settle frivolous lawsuits brought on by the building industry and land barons.

They tell you that Measure T, as written, is required by state law. What they do not tell you is that Measure T goes way beyond state requirements.

They scare you into believing that your state bureaucracy will impose its will onto this city if Measure T is voted down, that the state may sue. Rest assured, the state does not have the power to overturn the will of the people. It would violate your democratic rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

They tell you that “Measure T doesn’t add any housing.” They must take you for dummies. Developers already stand in line to quadruple their profits by taking advantage of property rezoned for high-density, four-story structures with drastically reduced setbacks and parking areas.

They tell you that only “13 small areas” were selected to allow for more housing. Folks, this is only the beginning. If approved, Measure T changes the General Plan and Municipal Codes irreversibly to allow higher densities of taller structures throughout the city. Resist urbanization of your unique beach town and the nefarious attempt to destroy your quality of life through increased traffic, pollution, noise and crime.

They tell you that Measure T “ensures local residents continue to have control over new development.” But history has demonstrated that development-driven local governments don’t give a hoot about residents. They sell out to special interest groups every time. In Encinitas, they exploited the need for a Housing Element Update to destroy your right to vote on future zoning changes and on other changes to your General Plan.

If you question these statements please read the entire 237 pages (originally over 800 pages) of the Housing Element Update before you vote.

Measure T is a terrible plan. Demand a better plan that does not trash your General Plan. Demand one that will actually create affordable housing. Vote no on T.

Dietmar Rothe

Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Vote yes on Prop MM

A yes vote on Prop MM is smart citizenship because community colleges have proven to be cost-effective, inclusive and effective. In my case, I don’t think I could have achieved my educational goals without it.

When I left high school after sophomore year, I started on an unconventional road toward a university diploma that would not have been possible without MiraCosta College. Even though I wanted other experiences before going back to school full-time, my ultimate goal was a bachelor’s degree. Fortunately, I was able to enroll part-time at MiraCosta at age 16, and, for the next three years, I combined education, travel and work until I was ready-and-able to transfer to UC Santa Barbara as a junior, ultimately graduating with Highest Honors.

At the time, I think most people were not convinced that I would succeed. And who could blame them? The prevailing narrative about college is that only one path leads to success. Fortunately, it turns out that community college is another path to many different types of higher education. The quality of the teachers, the flexibility of the schedule and the affordability of enrollment kept me engaged while allowing me to navigate my own course.

If our community is at its best when everyone has access to higher education, then support for community colleges is vitally important.

Vote yes on Prop MM and help MiraCosta improve its capacity to serve the students in our own neighborhoods. It’s a no-brainer.

Chris Goldsmith

President, Belly Up Entertainment