Apuzzo fills vacancy on Planning Commission

At its July 13 meeting, the Encinitas City Council heard from several candidates and eventually chose Al Apuzzo to replace Ruben Flores on the Planning Commission.

Flores, who was in attendance, stepped down from the Planning Commission without controversy, citing a busy schedule with his new job.

Apuzzo, 43, is a commercial real estate broker who has lived in New Encinitas since 2011, and been a city resident since 2006.

He earned his master’s degree in real estate from San Diego State in 2002 and now works as a principal at Lee & Associates.

“I believe that my years of experience in the private sector can provide practical and valuable planning insight focused on eliciting quality and promoting thoughtful design, to protect and enhance the overall character of the existing communities of Encinitas,” Apuzzo told the Encinitas Advocate.

Apuzzo and his wife, Sarah, have three children, Forest, 7, Parker, 5, and Hazel, who is almost 2 years old. It’s his first official foray into public service, but Apuzzo has “extensive volunteer experience with a variety of organizations.”

His first meeting was July 21.