Breaking News: Mysterious Fuel Spill at Beacon's Beach

If you are in the Beacon's Beach area then you probably smell the diesel fuel in the air. It is all over the beach. The lifeguard I talked to said the city lifeguards were working with the Coast Guard to locate the origin of the spill.

The fuel in the air burned my eyes so bad that I only snapped a couple of shots before retreating back up the bluff.



The spill stretched the entire length of Beacon's Beach, I'm not sure if other areas are affected.



Fire Department, Lifeguards and a Haz-Mat team (with helicopters buzzing overhead).

More Traffic is (still) Less Traffic

Michael D Pattinson has thrown in the towel with NCT column. At first I missed the big fat whiner, but his replacement Lou Ochoa is just as funny. In this column he attempts to explain how further development in the hopelessly gridlocked Inland Empire will improve the traffic mess.

Growth key to solving gridlock

I guess Pattinson quit his column because he was exposed as a NIMBY regarding the Fanita power plant and that his propaganda crusade for 'more inventory means affordable home prices' mantra was shot now that the building industry is canceling projects left and right.

Dozens comment on draft Ponto environmental report

Dozens comment on draft Ponto environmental report

article excerpts:

Wildlife agencies wanted more information about how coastal habitat might be harmed. The city of Encinitas said its traffic concerns hadn't been adequately addressed. And area residents and their attorneys raised a multitude of issues.

By Tuesday's deadline, the city of Carlsbad reportedly had received more than 40 letters and e-mails commenting on its new draft environmental document, which covers development plans for the south Carlsbad coastal region known as Ponto.

Now, the city must sift through those comments and respond to each before it can take its final version of the environmental report to the Planning Commission and City Council for approval.

Carlsbad didn't originally plan to do this environment report -- it was pushed toward that step after an intense public outcry against its proposed Ponto Beachfront Village Vision Plan.

That general planning document, which remains in draft form, calls for putting three hotels, a resort complex, condominiums and retail shops into the privately owned region, which is bordered by Carlsbad Boulevard to the west, the Hanover Beach Colony development to the north, Batiquitos Lagoon to the south, and the railroad tracks to the east.

In its comment letter, the city of Encinitas took issue with some of the traffic data in the environmental report, saying that there appeared to be errors in the vehicle volume figures and indicating that the Ponto development plans could have a far worse impact on area roadways than Carlsbad currently anticipates.

"No project traffic is forecast to access Leucadia Boulevard, which does not seem realistic," city of Encinitas environmental coordinator Scott Vurbeff wrote in his letter to Carlsbad.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the state Department of Fish & Game sent a joint letter asking for more details about how habitat that would be damaged by development will be replaced. Any impacts to coastal bluff scrub habitat should be mitigated by preserving other habitat that is of that same, hard-to-find type, they note.

The two agencies also wanted more information about how the endangered Least Tern nesting area along Batiquitos Lagoon would be protected given that development plans call for putting a resort next door the lagoon.

They weren't the only ones raising issues related to the lagoon. The Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation's President Fred Sandquist wrote that the city's draft environmental document "lacks specificity in certain areas, making it difficult to assess the magnitude of the impacts or the effectiveness of the mitigation measures." He argued that the document needs more information about a variety of things, including how lighting, landscaping and stormwater runoff from the proposed resort would be kept from harming the lagoon.

The homeowners association representing the people who live just east of Ponto -- the San Pacifico Area "A" Association -- also had concerns about how development might harm the lagoon, in addition to many other issues. In its comment letter, the association sought everything from hourly water spraying to reduce construction dust to more information about how peregrine falcons would be impacted by the development.

The longest letter the city received -- 17 pages of commentary, plus a dozen or so attachments -- came from an attorney representing a man who lives just north of Ponto in the Hanover Beach Colony. Residents in that area have opposed plans for a Hilton hotel, which would be directly across the street from the entrance to their development.

City council meetings live on the internets?

Interesting North County Times opinion piece about local governments streaming their city council meetings live over the web:

Your government @ transparency


In addition to Internet video streaming, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Escondido, Solana Beach, Del Mar and San Diego County also broadcast their meetings live on area cable television systems. San Marcos and Vista both offer a delayed cable broadcast of their council meetings.

North County's two transparency truants are Encinitas and Poway, which offer only delayed cable broadcasts of their council meetings. Poway finally got around to even this tardy televising of its meetings only about two months ago.

All it would take Encinitas to broadcast its council meetings live is a flick of the switch and some municipal pocket change. Council members have talked a good game about streaming their meetings online, but didn't set aside one thin dime toward that goal this fiscal year. Hopefully, regional peer pressure will make it act sooner rather than later.

Of course, all of the video in the world, streaming or otherwise, won't make a difference if local residents don't actually tune in or log on to see their local governments in action, and, after watching, participate in the political process. But it does give voters one less excuse for not being informed and involved.

I think streaming the meetings live is a good idea but even more I would like the meetings to be archived in a podcast or something for viewing when you have time. Heck, let's put all the meetings on You Tube.

The city hasn't been all that happy about giving taxpayers access to information in the past Hobbyist, Democracy and Integrity Frustrate Local Tool Sharpener

New library now visible from downtown Enc

The new $20 million dollar library is now becoming visible over city hall from downtown Encinitas.

L101 Guardrail does it's job

Some folks say that the Leucadia 101 rusty guardrails are ugly and should be removed but this one at Jupiter St did it's job and prevented a vehicle from going into the southbound lane.

I wonder if the city will leave it crumpled like this forever?

Leucadia/Encinitas will absorb Carlsbad's Traffic

The following was posted in the comments section in the post about Carlsbad's plans for Ponto,

The bad news is the minimum estimate of 15,000 cars cutting through Leucadia each day will further degrade Encinitas by putting even more gridlock along the HW101 corridor throughout Encinitas.

Encinitas needs to manage the traffic volume cutting through Encinitas and encourage them to stay on I5!

The development should be conditioned to:

1. Design the access improvements to encourage access from Avenida Encinas- NOT LEUCADIA HW101.

2. Redesigning the La Costa/HW101 intersection to:

a. Reduce the current southbound HW101 through lanes to one at La Costa Avenue for a small segment to manage the cut through traffic in Encinitas. Making this small change would help Encinitas tremendously by moving the morning cut through commuters queue north to Ponto (which is were it belongs) instead of grid locking all of Leucadia and Encinitas every time that I5 gets backed up. The Cut through traffic problem is only going to get worse in the future with I5 currently backed up 50% of the time with projections to get much worse in the near future.

b. Include two left hand turn lanes from southbound HW101 turning east on La Costa Avenue.

3. Improve La Costa Avenue to handle the increased future traffic-including:

a. Rebuilding the existing bridge over the railroad tracks.

b. Rebuilding the intersections of Vulcan Avenue and Sheridan Road to assure no increase in cut through traffic through the Leucadia neighborhood east of HW101.

c. Bike lanes and Walkways, and Landscaping improvements.

Our Encinitas’s Staff and City Council need to get their game on and make sure Encinitas manages its roads and protect our City from the negative impacts of Carlsbad’s development policies.

Time will tell whether staff and City Council are watching our back. What kind of conditions do you think our City Council will suggest being included in the Specific Plans conditions of approval?

PONTO BEACHFRONT VILLAGE VISION PLAN

Ponto is in Carlsbad but whatever happens to Ponto impacts Leucadia.

If you have an opinion about the future development of the Ponto area you have until next week to voice your opinion,

From the city of Carlsbad:

The Draft EIR will be available for public review and comment until May 29, 2007. All comments on the Draft EIR must be submitted in writing to the following City of Carlsbad contact:
Christer Westman, Carlsbad
Planning Department; 1635 Faraday Avenue; Carlsbad, CA 92008

Christer Westman AICP
cwest@ci.carlsbad.ca.us


check out the EIR here

Encinitas council OKs downtown restrictions

Encinitas council OKs downtown restrictions

By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer

ENCINITAS -- The Encinitas City Council voted 4-0 Wednesday to approve three related items in its downtown business districts.

The council agreed to create restrictions that would limit ground floors of buildings on South Coast Highway 101 to retail businesses only.

It authorized its Planning Department to process the Encinitas Union School District's request to rezone the old Pacific View School campus to allow for housing and offices.

It also accepted a Cardiff Town Council roster of people to scrutinize the controversial Cardiff Specific Plan.

Councilman Dan Dalager, a business owner in downtown Encinitas, did not participate in the retail-only or school campus vote. Councilwoman Teresa Barth, who lives in downtown Cardiff, excused herself from the Cardiff Specific Plan vote.

Reserving ground floor spaces for retail businesses in downtown Encinitas will keep the bustling business district "vibrant," council members said.

"What we need to do is protect and enhance, if possible, the vibrancy (of downtown)," said Councilman Jerome Stocks, "so 30 years out, we have a resident-serving, visitor-serving downtown. That's what this ordinance protects. I don't want a bunch of lawyers moving in and buying up retail stores and bank locations and setting up their offices on the ground floor of Highway 101."

We don't need no education?

Pacific View rezoning proposal heading to Encinitas council

At tonight's city council meeting school officials and their consultants will show a replacement plan developed in cooperation with neighbors that calls for housing and offices on the 2.8-acre site.

The plan for the only public school campus in downtown Encinitas has been two years in the making, and at least one more year of hearings and debate is expected before any construction begins.

That's because the campus today is zoned only for public or semi-public buildings, such as churches, medical or government offices. The council on Wednesday will decide whether to authorize the city's staff to begin processing the zoning change requested by the school district.

When completed, the change would need the approval of at least four City Council members. The state Coastal Commission also would need to approve it.

I think this comment on the NCT.com page sums it up, Delaney wrote on May 22, 2007 12:15 PM:
"I thought that the original owner of this property sold it to the EUSD for one dollar under the assumption that the Pacific View property would always be used as a beautiful school site for the children of Encinitas. That is, obviously, not what is going to happen. As a public school teacher, mother and life-long Encinitas resident, I am truly sorry that the property will not be used for the local Enci kids at all."

and this, Diane wrote on May 22, 2007 5:07 PM:
"Medical offices are not public/semi public buidlings -- they are for profit commercial ventures - why should the City subsidize cosmetic surgeons! As for Pacific View that land should be used for children -- why not put some soccer fields there and downsize the proposed sports complex so many residents are opposed to at the Hall Property. The last thing we need is another new development of offices and residences that will block our ocean views. That land should be preserved for children, and their children."

I think this site could be used for downtown Encinitas employee parking and overflow summer beach parking. But, you know what would be great? If it was a school!

As downtown Encinitas increases it's density with more condos, lofts and duplexes shouldn't the city prepare for more kids in the area? Or, are we to assume that all the new residential developments will just be summer rentals or occupied by childless singles?

Cardiff rail area vs Leucadia rail area

The people of Cardiff know how to beautify their community. Can Leucadia recreate this? Or does NCTD stand in the way?

Cardiff



Leucadia

Invasion of the canopy snatchers....

This e-mail has been making the rounds...

To Whom It May Concern at Encinitas City Hall: 5-19-07

A few months back on a SATURDAY MORNING I was awakened by chainsaws doing work on N. Coast Hwy 101. Tree trimming is not that unusual here so I didn’t get up and take a look. When I opened my shop at 10am, The healthy, 16’ pine tree I had planted in the median 12 years ago was completely gone. My Dad said before they began, he saw a large white truck with a chipper in tow and the name of the company in big letters on the door of the truck, but he couldn’t remember what the company name was. He thought they were merely trimming as well and paid little attention to them.

I called Andy Bullington at the city and he said there were NO city crews working on Saturdays and that no company had been hired by the city to do trimming and such in Leucadia for the past 6 mos. He also said if I see the truck again to let him know who it was.

Today I found out who it was.

But the tree butchering is not limited to the pine tree. It is ANY tree they believe "impairs" people’s view of BILLBOARDS on the hwy here. In the past, we were also trying to figure out WHO was trimming the palm trees so badly. They would leave ONE palm branch sticking straight up in the air when they left in front of Bamboo 2U my neighbor.

Today, SATURDAY MORNING, a little after 10am I heard a big truck pull up. A crew of five men began putting tools together to trim trees and they headed for Judy’s palm tree (again). I said “You’re not planning on trimming that tree are you?” and he said “Yes” and I told them I didn’t want them to. They told me they were making it easier for people to see the billboard on Jason St.. I told them they were destroying trees (as if they didn’t know).

I believe the name of the company that completely took out my tree and God knows how many others, is EVERGREEN TREE SERVICE. I only had a second to look at their truck, went to get my camera and they had split. (It’s the last word I’m not postive about, but Evergreen and Tree were the first two words. Their large logo is on the door of a large white truck, the kind that holds chippings. The Name of the company is in GOLD lettering with maybe black outlines and is ARCHED above their addreess and phone # etc. there were about 4 or 5 lines of information below it.
Please do something from preventing this company from continuing to blight our business district. I just noticed the hacked off most of the palms of one of Charlie Marvin’s trees on HIS property as well (just before they got to my block no doubt. I will be taking picture of their handywork tomorrow.

I would like them to replace the tree in the median they destroyed. Lastly, I think they need some letter from the city forbidding them to continue under a costly penalty.

Yours truly,
Fred Caldwell
1234 N. Coast Hwy 101
Leucadia CA 92024

Encinitas exploring 'retail-only' regulations for Ground Floors

Encinitas exploring 'retail-only' regulations

By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer

ENCINITAS -- Determined to retain the viability of its downtown business district, Encinitas is exploring a "retail-only" restriction for the ground floors of buildings on South Coast Highway 101.

In a report to the Encinitas City Council Thursday, Planning Director Patrick Murphy recommends amending planning documents to specify the kinds of businesses that would be allowed along 101.

The council will consider the report when it meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 505 S. Vulcan Ave.

Attached to the report is an analysis prepared by the Downtown Encinitas MainStreet Association. The analysis lists reasons why seven other California cities have enacted similar restrictions.

Maintaining a pedestrian-friendly environment and reserving space for businesses that serve residents and visitors are among the reasons the cities of Alameda, Arcadia, Atascadero, Coronado, Redwood, San Luis Obispo and San Mateo cited when regulating commercial space in their business districts.

"The concept is something I can support," Councilwoman Teresa Barth said Thursday.

Closer to Encinitas, the city of Del Mar recently adopted an emergency ordinance to encourage more retail and fewer offices in its small business district. Real estate, financial and legal offices occupy much of the valuable space.

"They lock the door at 5 p.m. and inadvertently take the life out of downtown," Barth said.

"The whole success of downtown is vibrancy," she continued. "That vibrancy is in the evening and the weekends."

Burning Questions about the Beach Smoking Ban

Let me begin by saying that I grew up with severe asthma and I am allergic to cigarette smoke.

Is the beach smoking ban about cigarette butts as litter or second hand smoke, or both?

If it's about litter then the ban won't be affective because the vast majority of the cigarette butts come from runoff from the streets and teenagers smoking at the beach after hours.

How many hours of manpower do our public works employees put into picking up cigarette butts off our beaches?

If it's about second hand smoke then we should consider a ban, even in an outdoor setting.

Should we have a complete ban on smoking at the beach, or have some smoking/non-smoking areas? For example, we don't want smoking at the Moonlight Beach Tot Lot but maybe it's okay if people smoke at the benches overlooking Moonlight Beach at the upper parking lot?

Surfing is blackballed between the two lifeguard towers during the summer and is for swimmers only. Should this be the non-smoking area and the beaches north or south allow smoking?

Who is smoking at the beach? The only people I see smoking are the young surfers in the parking lots. It used to be that NO surfers ever smoked cigarettes, but the next generation seems to be embracing it. This is wild because they are the generation that was targeted by unprecedented millions of dollars in anti-smoking education. I guess they are rebelling against that message.

The fire rings are extremely popular at Moonlight Beach, is there a health risk from the smoke from these fires? Is it less or worse than second hand smoke from the occasional cigarette?

What is the fine line between taking away the personal freedoms of a smoker out in public as opposed to my freedom to not breathe in crappy smoke that was already in somebody's gunky lungs?

Does the snack stand at Moonlight Beach sell cigarettes?

Speaking of air pollution, the coast highway is getting busier and busier every summer. What effect is thousands and thousands of idling cars having on our local air quality?

What would happen if a leashless dog smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer out of a glass bottle was riding a horse at the beach???

See also:

Jerome Stocks op-ed in SDUT: Let Encinitas citizens decide smoking ban

Encinitas councilman wants beach smoking ban on ballot

Leucadia Blog: UNION-TRIBUNE EDITORIALS

SDUT story: Smoking debate resurfaces

Letters from Encinitas council persons Houlihan and Barth in Union Tribune. (scroll down)

CigaretteLitter.org