president’s messagesdapa.org/download/sdapanews5-07.pdf3 continued on page 5 recent programs local...
TRANSCRIPT
IN THIS ISSUEPRESIDENTrsquoS MESSAGE
Page 1
EVENTS CALENDARPage 2
PLANNING COMMISSIONERSrsquo WORKSHOPPage 3
PLANNING TOPICS
Form-based CodeRose Canyon Bridge
CanyonlandsRoad Trip
Rancho GuejitoPage 5
Leave no Child InsideSan Diego River Valley
What About GailMSCP
Page 6
ANNOUNCEMENTSPage 7
copy2007 APA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
May 2007
Presidentrsquos MessageBy Bill Chopyk AICP
It is truly my honor to serve as your Section Director for the San Diego Section APA (SDAPA) SDAPA consists of 520 members from both Imperial and San Diego Counties We constitute 9
of the total California APA membership of 5816 planners statewide Our membership is growing at the rate of 5 annually
As Section Director I have a seat on the California Chapter APA (CCAPA) Board of Directors I attended my first CCAPA Board meet-ing on March 2-3 2007 in Laguna Beach CCAPA is undertaking many initiatives including the review and analysis of 3000 bills pro-posed in the state legislature this year conference planning profes-sional development newsletter printing and production accessible websites planning commissioner training student involvement and scholarships planner emeritus networking FAICP recognition diver-sity and inclusionary participation national policy positions on food production and global warming and embarking on a public relations campaign to bolster the planning profession and expose to the public the importance of planning in our lives
APA offers so much We bring you exciting state and national con-ferences intriguing luncheon programs extravagant awards ban-quets enjoyable membership appreciation events festive holiday parties excellent AICP training sessions and fun student events
I would encourage you to get involved in APA at all levels The net-working opportunities are wonderful and participation is usually fun and always informative So get out there and come to some of our APA events I hope to see all 520 of you at some point this year
SincerelyBill Chopyk AICP
San Diego Sect ionBoard Members
Section Director Bill Chopyk AICP6196671187
bchopykcila-mesacaus
Past Section Director Lance Schulte AICP7609666683
lschultenctdorg
Treasurer Carey Fernandes AICP7604794299
cfernandesdudekcom
Secretary Jerry McLees AICP6192331454 x 355mcleesjedawcom
Membership Chair Sara Osborn 6195333945
SOsbornsandiegogovNewsletter Editor Rich Brasher PE AICP
7608913217richbrasherstanteccom
Programs Co-Chair Elisa Marrone6192584100 x 152
eamarronehotmailcom
Programs Co-Chair Dan Wery AICP8586145081
dweryrbfcom
Webmaster Greg Konar AICP6198813265
gregkprojectdesigncom
Legislative Chair Kiley Lyons6192432957
kiley_lyonsurscorpcom
Awards Chair Chantelle Swaby8586943731
chantelleswabysdcountycagov
Professional Development (AICP) Stan Donn AICP6194095953
Sdonncichula-vistacaus
Professional Development (Wkshp) Brooke Peterson AICP8585788964
bpetersonjsanetcom
Marketing Sarah Lozano7604794251
slozanodudekcomAcademic LiaisonMentor Programs Kevin Grant
8584533602kgrantpacificmunicipalcom
Imperial Valley RAC Elizabeth Shoemaker7603371533 ext1104
epshoemakerdrhortoncomStudent Representative - UCSD Grant Jensen
jensengrantgmailcom
The Planning JournalWeb Page wwwsdapaorg
Newsletter Editor Rich Brasher PE AICPrichbrasherstanteccom
2
SDAPA Planning AwardsJune 7 2007It is that time of year again The 2007 SDAPA Awards Banquet will be taking place on Thursday June 7th 2007 This is sure to be a fun and memorable event so mark your calendars today and plan on celebrating the best in San Diego County Planning with us See flyer for more informationDownload Flyer
SDAPA Planning Awards Sponsorship OpportunitiesGet your name out there Being a sponsor of the SDAPA Planning Awards is a great way to gain company recognition and to support a great event at the same time The event is host to almost 150 planning peers and this year will be the most exciting event yet Donrsquot miss out There are many ways to become involved Becoming a sponsor has never been easier Online credit card contributions are now being accepted For more information please contactChantelle Swaby 858-694-3731 Online Sponsorships
Greenovation Series LaunchAccelerating the Regionrsquos Green Tech SectorMay 7 2007 at 530 PM
The Greenovation Forum is a new series of events that will ldquofacilitate and accelerate innovation dialogue and action in San Diegorsquos green technology sectorrdquo
It is being spearheaded by UCSD the Scripps Foundation the San Diego Foundation the Next Earth Foundation the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Environment and Sustainability Initiative at UCSD in conjunction with industry government philanthropy and social-benefit organizations to nurture sustainable development practices
The first series will be held on Monday May 7 2007 at 530 pm at UCSD
Please see the invitation if yoursquore interested and please feel free to forward this information to anyone you think might be interested
Contact for the event is Ann Van Leer Principal Broker Land Conservation Brokerage4079 Governor Drive 330 San Diego CA 92122858-452-2027 land 858-452-7419 fax 858-442-0937 cellannlandconservecom wwwlandconservecom
URBAN WATERFRONTS 25 THE NEXT WAVEThe Waterfront Centerrsquos Annual International Conference
November 1-3 2007Seaport HotelBoston Massachusettswwwwaterfrontcenterorg
Events Calendar
3
Continued on Page 5
Recent ProgramsLocal APA Hosts First-Ever Regional Planning Workshop for Planning CommissionersBy Amanda Kirkman SDSU MCP Student and SANDAG Intern
On January 19 2007 the San Diego Section of the American Planning Association in conjunction with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Caltrans District 11 and the League of California Cities sponsored a workshop designed for local Planning Commissioners citizen advisory group members citizen planners and planning staffs to provide information on San Diegorsquos regional plans and programs and how they
interact with city and county planning
Opening remarks were made by Kathy Garcia Planning Commissioner for the City of San Diego and Lance Schulte Past San Diego Section APA President Bob Leiter Director of Planning for SANDAG then provided an introduction to regional planning and an overview of SANDAGrsquos Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP) and Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
The workshop consisted of breakout sessions where participants were given the option of attending two out of four discussions Land Use and Urban Form Transportation Regional Public Facilities and Natural Environment After the breakout sessions optional discussions of geographically-based sub-regional planning issues were offered Discussion topics from the breakout sessions are described below
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS
Land Use and Urban Form The Land Use and Urban Form session included a brief overview of the San Diego Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP) and key implementation efforts underway as well as a summary of functions performed by San Diegorsquos Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Coleen Clementson described the Smart Growth planning strategy contained in the RCP which was adopted by the region in July 2004 In addition she discussed the Smart Growth Concept Map which identifies nearly 200 existing planned or potential smart growth areas near existing planned or potential public transit stations and explained the Maprsquos relationship to the TransNet-funded SANDAG Smart Growth Incentive Program that will make $7 million available annually to local jurisdictions to plan for or develop smart growth near public transit Keith Greer summarized another key compo-nent of smart growth planning and an important element in the RCP regional habitat planning Keith provided an overview of the status of regional and subregional habitat planning programs including the TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) which will provide $850 million over the next 40 years to mitigate environmental impacts associated with regional transportation improvements He also explained how the EMP will assist in implemen-tation of the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) and the Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (MHCP) through land acquisition manage-ment and monitoring Mike Ott described the role LAFCO plays in discouraging urban sprawl and ensuring orderly development in the San Diego region He also answered questions about the spheres on influence and the annexation process
Transportation The transportation session covered regional transportation topics from SANDAG Caltrans the Port of San Diego and the San Diego Regional Airport Authority Phil Trom from SANDAG presented highlights of the SANDAG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the Early Action Program that SANDAG is undertaking with TransNet funding Bill Figge from Caltrans then discussed how Caltrans coordinates with SANDAG to imple-ment transportation projects and how it also coordinates with the State to develop and update the State Transportation Improvement Program Angela Shafer-Payne from the Airport Authority discussed the Airport Master Plan and how the Airport Authority is looking at ways to improve efficiency at Lindbergh Field through on-site modifications She also mentioned the need to continue to develop collaborative efforts with other airports and Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans in the San Diego region as a way of enhancing regional efficiency and capacity Bill Briggs followed up the airport con-versation with a presentation on the Port of San Diego and its role in providing regional goods movement encouraging tourism and supporting the jobs and revenue produced by the 5800 acres of land managed by the Port along the San Diego Bay
Public Facilities Jane Signaigo-Cox from SANDAG talked about the regional public facilities that are addressed in the Integrated Regional Infrastructure Strategy (IRIS) contained within the Regional Comprehensive Plan The focus of this session was on three of the eight public facility infra-structure networks identified in the RCP ndash water energy and stormwater Dana Friehauf with the San Diego County Water Authority (Water Authority) explained that the mission of the Water Authority is to provide a safe and reliable supply of water to its member agencies The Water Authority is the wholesale water agency serving 23 retail water agencies in the San Diego region Dana stressed how the Water Authority relies upon SANDAG and its member agencies for forecasted growth projections to calculate demands and plan for future water supplies Andrew McAllister with the San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) explained that his organizationrsquos mission is to foster public policies and provide programs and information that facili-tate the adoption of clean reliable renewable sustainable and efficient energy technologies Andrew explained the incentives available through the California Solar Initiative over the next decade to promote installation of solar energy systems within an overall ldquogreeningrdquo strategy As for stormwater management Bruce Posthumous with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) stressed the need to go beyond enhancing water quality by protecting watershed health with the focus on recognizing and addressing threats to watershed health before they arise
4
Natural Environment The workshop session on the Natural Environment included speakers in the areas of shoreline management air quality and habitat preservation Shelby Tucker from SANDAG discussed the Shoreline Preservation Strategy and the future of regional beach sand replenishment A discussion on the Environmental Mitigation Program and the regionrsquos habitat conservation plans was led by Susan Wynn from the US Fish and Wildlife Service And Andy Hamilton from the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) discussed the APCDrsquos role in regional air quality planning and regula-tion
SUBREGIONAL ROUNDTABLES
Following the break-out sessions participants interested in planning issues related to particular sub-regions of San Diego were given the opportunity to attend roundtable discussions pertaining to North County Central San Diego East County and South County
North County The North County roundtable discussion began with SANDAG and NCTD staff speaking about North County projects and the following issues land use smart growth transportation transit and environmental and public facilities Participants expressed concern about the effects that future growth will have on the region specifically on open space and habitat Planning commissioners noted that the issue of locating residential uses adjacent to manufacturing and industrial uses can generate land use conflicts SANDAG staff noted that this ldquoco-locationrdquo issue is one that is affecting many jurisdictions in the region Participants also expressed the need to ensure that higher densitysmart growth projects are well-designed pedestrian-oriented and respect the character of the adjacent uses
Central San Diego The Central San Diego group discussed projects and issues surrounding smart growth A staff member from the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) mentioned a mixed-use project proposed at the Euclid Transit Center and a participant from the Port District explained their approach to maritime leasing and issues related to goods movement planning The group also discussed SANDAGrsquos Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP) Smart Growth Concept Map the 2007 Regional Transportation Plan and how to address community concerns over density
East County The East County group discussed some of the smart growth planning efforts underway in the area including the Lemon Grove Downtown Specific Plan the La Mesa Mixed Use Strategic Implementation Plan the Trolley Square development in Santee and the planning effort currently underway in El Cajon to create transit supportive land uses and connections to the civic center for the El Cajon Transit Center The speakers also reviewed some of the regional transportation initiatives that have been completed or are underway in the area like the extension of SR-52 Issues raised by the participants included the desire for a variety of housing and transportation choices and the need to provide better pedestrian connections to trolley stations
South County The South County discussion started off with an overview of major land use projects happening in South Bay The discussion focused on the smart growth areas identified in Chula Vista National City Imperial Beach Coronado San Ysidro and Otay Mesa and on significant develop-ment projects happening in these areas including the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan the future university and Eastern Urban Center in eastern Chula Vista redevelopment projects planned in downtown National City and the San Ysidro ldquoMi Pueblordquo Pilot Project In addition an overview of the improvements to the transportation network and major transit services was provided including the South Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project SR-905 SR-11 the South Bay Expressway (SR-125) Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 The international border with Mexico was also discussed with informa-tion provided on the two existing ports of entry at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa the future port of entry proposed east of the current Otay Mesa crossing and the Otay Mesa ndash Mesa de Otay Strategic Plan currently under development with participants from both sides of the border Maritime projects being coordinated by the Port of San Diego were highlighted and energy issues impacting South County were also discussed Finally the possibility of a new Chargers stadium in National City or Chula Vista was briefly raised
EVALUATIONS
Many participants commented that the workshop was very informational and provided a nice overview of the larger regional perspective in relation to local planning One participant stated the workshop offered a ldquogreat opportunity to define how several agencies are woven into the fabric of lsquolocal planningrsquordquo and another suggested scheduling a workshop like this twice a year to provide relevant information on current planning projects within the region Other suggestions were to increase the allotted time for the breakout sessions to provide more time for questions and answers as well as spend more time discussing specific planning and transportation projects and programs Overall the first Planning Commissionerrsquos Workshop ldquoThe ABCrsquos of Regional Planning in San Diegordquo was well attended and generated valuable discussion on the relationship between regional plans and programs and local planning efforts
YOUR CHANCE TO WEIGH IN
Based on the evaluation forms APA is considering teaming up with SANDAG Caltrans and the League of California Cities to conduct this workshop again next year What do YOU think If you attended let us know If you didnrsquot attend but would be interested in a future workshop focused on the relationship between regional and local planning let us know Your feedback is important to us Please send your e-mails to Lschultenctdorg
Continued From Page 3
5
PointCounter Point for Form-Based Code for Bird RockTenets of Form-Based Code From Mike Stepner and Howard Blackson
That infill developments with a mix of uses and of a smaller scale should be the preferred pattern of development and to discourage projects
specializing in single uses or repetitive architecture on several parcelsThat buildings and landscaping should contribute to the physical definition of thoroughfares as public spacesThat development should adequately accommodate for automobiles while respecting the pedestrian and the spatial forms of public spacesForm-Based Code for Bird Rock
Blog From Pat Flannery ndash ldquoBird Rock will look like a 19th century English coal-mining townrdquo 032007
They will loudly condemn the old restrictive ldquoEuclidianrdquo concept of sepa-rating land uses and banish such thinking to the lower reaches of plan-
ning hell They will crown their god ldquoFormrdquo the Adonis of planning They will proclaim a new age right here in beautiful downtown Bird Rock aka Baja La Jolla httpwwwblogofsandiegocom
Rose Canyon Follow-upSan Diego CityBeat article
City Council Rescinds Decision To Proceed With Regents Road Bridge
Friends of Rose Canyonrsquos lawsuit forces City Council to do an about-face City Council votes to do a brand new EIR Major Victory for
Friends of Rose Canyon City capitulates before the case is heard in courtRose Canyonrsquos Great Escape
Canyonlands Follow-up - Saving the Canyonby Dave Good
By the late 1990s the Canyon at 32nd Street was on the verge of environ-mental blight It took the threat of development however to unite neigh-bors to save the once-pristine habitathttpwwwsandiegomagazinecommediaSan-Diego-MagazineApril-200732nd-Street-Canyon-Clean-Up
Road TripRoute 50 Trip BackgroundwwwRte50com
Between the Memorial Day weekend amp July 10th Irsquoll be reporting for the Planning Commissioners Journal on planning and land-use related
issues facing communities along US Route 50 from coast-to-coast Irsquoll be posting updates here most every day -- text audio and visual images I hope yoursquoll join in this learning experience by following our web blog You can sign up for our feed or to be alerted when I post new reports (see the left panel) For more background on this trip and how you can help support us see my first postWayne Senville Editor Planning Commissioners Journal
Regional Planning Topics
Continued on Page 6
Rancho Guejito Threatened with Subdivision for New Urban DevelopmentBy Bruce Coons
Rancho Guejito is the best last most important most beautiful and most intact Mexican land grant It is the least spoiled portion of
coastal California from the Mexican border to above Santa Barbarahttpsohosandiegoorgreflections2007-1guejito_coverhtm
Rancho Guejito ndash A Call for ProtectionLetter to Elected Officials
The undersigned organizations enthusiastically endorse the protection of the 21000-acre Rancho Guejito located east of Valley Center It
is one of the most important properties in California Herersquos why
The ranch contains the best preserved Mexican land grant in Southern California that is still in private ownership and remains undeveloped Its Old California history and cattle ranch ndash in their original setting and con-text ndash provide an unparalleled opportunity for education and interpreta-tion Here our children can understand their past
Culturally important as an ancestral area to the Kumeyaay and Luiseno ndash the Native Americans of the area ndash it is rich in archeological history and considered a sacred site
With clean water from pristine watersheds the large expanses of open space are irreplaceable habitat for San Diegorsquos wildlife Golden eagles and mountain lions find ldquoroom to roamrdquo The ranch is a critical ecologi-cal link between coastal habitats and the adjoining higher elevation Cleveland National Forest
Twenty different plant communities including one of the last strongholds of the rare Engelmann oak support high biological diversity including endangered species and 16 types of raptors The mosaic of oak wood-lands expansive grasslands vernal pools and riparian areas is unparal-leled in the county Opportunities for scientific study abound
Once planned for acquisition as a state park preservation could provide unique recreational opportunities for urban populations and maintain the quality of life that attracts high-wage businesses to San Diego and keeps our economy strong
The beauty of Rancho Guejito is legendary ndash a place where time has stood still Its sun-drenched hills endless seas of grass sparkling creeks forests of great oaks granite outcrops and immense solitude must continue to inspire us
Large scale development on Rancho Guejito as recently proposed would do irreparable harm to San Diegorsquos historic cultural and envi-ronmental identity Such ldquoleapfrogrdquo development would also burden the taxpayer with costly infrastructure extension and service provision We ask for your help in averting this outcome
Let us pursue ldquowin-winrdquo solutions that reward the excellent stewardship by past owners and the current owner the Coates family Letrsquos invest in
6
our future by preserving its past Using funds now available from local state and federal sources an unprecedented legacy can be created for the family for our elected leaders and for the people of California Please support the protection of this natural and historic treasure
We look forward to working with you
SincerelyClare Billet Managing Director San Diego Conservation Resources NetworkJames Birkelund Attorney Natural Resources Defense Council Janet Cobb President California Oak FoundationBruce Coons Executive Director Save Our Heritage OrganisationTom Golich President San Dieguito River Valley ConservancyDave Grubb Chair North County Coastal Group Sierra ClubRichard W Halsey Director California Chaparral InstituteDavid Hogan Conservation Manager Center for Biological DiversityRick Landavazo Chair The Friends of Hellhole Canyon Open Space PreserveMargaret McCown Liles President Escondido Chamber of CitizensCarolyn Martus President San Diego Chapter California Native Plant SocietyAndy Mauro Conservation Chair Buena Vista Audubon SocietyDiane Nygaard President Preserve CalaveraJames A Peugh Conservation Committee Chair San Diego Audubon SocietyJune Rady President The Escondido Creek ConservancyDan Silver Executive Director Endangered Habitats LeagueDavid Toler Council Member San Pasqual Band of Juanentildeo Mission Indians of CaliforniaWallace Tucker Chair Fallbrook Land ConservancyMichael D White PhD San Diego Director Conservation Biology InstituteFred Woods President Friends of Daley RanchJoe Zechman Chair San Diego Chapter Sierra Club
Leave No Child Inside
The growing movement to reconnect children and natureby Richard Louv
httpwwwsdearthtimescomet0407et0407s5html
The San Diego River Valley
From the earliest days the San Diego River has been critical to our community For thousands of years this has been true Today the
River is now considered a polluted waterway by the EPA You can be part of the effort to clean up our river and restore its health You can also be part of the incredible effort underway to establish a bright future for our
Continued from Page 5 river as we celebrate it with a river-long park system The San Diego River Park will stretch 52 miles from the mountains to the oceanYou are vital to the success of these effortsWonrsquot you join us httpwwwsandiegoriverorg
What About GailThe Los Angeles Times drew up an interesting profile of Gail Goldberg who spearheads planning for our neighbor to the north Goldberg is San Diegorsquos former planning director According to the article Goldberg has become one of the most recognized faces around the big cityrsquos government since moving there in late 2005
In the 15 months since she was hired away from San Diego by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Goldbergrsquos public profile has steadily grown owing to hundreds of appearances before community groups who can spot her just as quickly as their photogenic mayor and tough-talking police chief
At once plain-spoken funny motherly charismatic and diplomatic Goldberg at 63 finds herself in a position to determine whether a city tolerant of sprawl traffic and cheap architecture can grow elegantly She too represents the mayorrsquos radical new take on Los Angeles Both are determined to rebuild some of the cityrsquos old neighborhoods and make them taller denser and linked to mass transit
MSCP Follow upOnce a National Model Habitat Plan Faces Uncertain Futurehttpwwwvoiceofsandiegoorgarticles20070416news02mscp041607txtVoice of San DiegoBy Rob Davis Voice Staff Writer ltmailtorobdavisvoiceofsandiegoorggt Monday April 16 2007 | A decade ago environmentalists developers and politicians celebrated their agreement on a blueprint for the future develop-ment and conservation of land in the city of San DiegoThe Multiple Species Conservation Program as it is called outlined a regional approach to habitat planning Instead of the piecemeal project-by-project development of the past the plan was designed to preserve the most biologically significant lands remaining in San DiegoThe idea was almost unprecedented That developers environmentalists and politicians agreed on a plan to protect 85 species was celebrated across the nation The New York Timesrsquo editorial page said the decision ldquomeans a virtual Noahrsquos Ark of endangered plant and animal life will now have a fighting chance to survive the relentless development that has dis-figured so much of Southern CaliforniardquoBut a year after its 1997 approval 14 environmental groups sued the city and US Fish and Wildlife Service over the plan The suit came after one of the first development projects approved using the blueprint paved over dozens of small wetlands habitats known as vernal pools The Cousins Marketcenter project in Mira Mesa left behind just one pool of 67 the habi-tat plan called for them to be avoided to the maximum extent practicalIn a court decision released late last year a judge scolded the officials who approved that project US District Court Judge Rudi Brewster said the
Continued on Page 7
7
conservation blueprint may hasten the extinction of the very species it is supposed to protect The decision was a serious blow to a plan that was once considered a national modelThe habitat conservation plan enabled the city of San Diego to issue permits to developers allowing them kill some of the 85 protected species which range from the prolific Canada goose to the threatened California gnatcatcher
Continued from Page 6
AnnouncementsSDAPA Academic Liason Mentor Program - Did you know that SDAPA has a Mentor Program that matches planning students with planning professionals Students and faculty members are encouraged to utilize our SDAPA Board liaison to communicate and network between the PlanningGeographyUrban Studies Departments of the San Diego region universities and the professional planning community The liaison is also tasked with assisting student representatives in organizing interested students in becoming more involved in the planning community prior to commencement For more information please contact Kevin Grant at kgrantpacificmunicipalcom or 858-342-8808
Mail-List - Receive the latest SDAPA and news and job announcements by subscribing to our e-mail list No charge Subscribe
Jobs Available - Check here for the latest San Diego Planning jobs Go to jobs
SDAPA Planning Library - Download PowerPoint presentations and workshop materials from SDAPA sponsored workshops and luncheons Download Presentations
Request for Proposals - SDAPA is now accepting RFP documents in downloadable PDF format for posting on our jobs announcements page Go to jobs page
Announcement Requests - Please submit announcement requests by e-mail to gregkprojectdesigncom Announcements should be rele-vant to the San Diego planning community Please see sample announce-ment request Download sample announcement request
Cal State Fullerton Offers Urban Planning Certificate
Advance your career with a Certificate in Urban Planning from Cal State Fullerton Extension This program is designed for current planners
as well as those new to the field and classes begin on June 7 at 630 pm Enrollment opens on April 2 2007 at wwwcsufextensionorgclassescertificate For more information contact Mimi Lawson mlawsonfullertonedu or 7142783313
Environmental Planning Seminars at theUniversity of California Irvine Extension
Cultural Resources and Land Development in California Wednesday April 25 9am-430pm Room 212 UCI Learning Center 200 S
Manchester Orange $225 including materialsIntroduction to NEPA Wednesday May 23 9am-430pm Room 210 UCI Learning Center 200 S Manchester Orange $225 including materi-alsTo enroll wwwextensionuciedu or 949-824-5414For more information 949-824-6538 or japurewauciedu
MW Steele Reorganizes Leadership Staff Positions Itself for Future
MW Steele a prominent architecture and planning firm in San Diego has undergone an internal reorganization to better serve cli-
ents and adapt to a changing business atmosphere in San DiegoldquoMW Steele is evolving to keep pace with the dynamic marketplace spurred by San Diegorsquos phenomenal growth over the past decaderdquo said Mark Steele the companyrsquos president ldquoA new generation of leaders within the firm has stepped up to help MW Steele grow and adaptrdquoThe firm is moving from a single-leader business model to a team approach spreading leadership responsibility among several new princi-pals all of whom have been with the firm for a significant period of timeldquoEach member of this team has contributed to the growth and success of MW Steele over the yearsrdquo Steele said ldquoThis evolution will allow MW Steele to continue to offer its clients innovative and creative thoughts ideas and designs that have made the firm so successfulrdquoMW Steele was formed in the early 1980s as a small firm focusing on small architecture and planning projects Since then it has evolved with more and diverse urban design architecture and policy planning efforts ldquoThis diversification must continue if the firm is to thrive in todayrsquos com-plex and challenging building environmentrdquo said Jennifer Ayala Director of ProjectsThe Cityrsquos urban neighborhoods have become more richly defined over the years offering new avenues and vistas for creative design and plan-ning MW Steele has always been forward-thinking when it comes to urban design It has become uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in larger community planning projects and efforts and compete on a state-wide level Although the company is reorganizing its core values and philosophies will remain the sameldquoThe companyrsquos new principals share the same ideals that created and sustained the firm from its inception nearly a quarter-century agordquo Steele said Steele will continue to serve in a leadership capacity for the fore-seeable future however ownership of the firm will gradually shift to the new principals over time
8
Accomplished Environmental Planning Professional Bobbi Herdes Joins San Diego Environmental Consulting Firm
Bobbi Herdes a skilled and experienced professional recently joined RECON Environmental Inc in San Diego Ms Herdes brings a
breath and depth of knowledge and ability as well as an exemplary record of achievements In her new position as Senior Project Manager at RECON Ms Herdes manages teams of technical experts in preparation of environmental documents (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] and National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]) for an array of large-scale projects throughout southern California Ms Herdes directs a full range of com-plex projects including roadways infrastructure urban redevelopment and mixed-use commercial industrial and residential developmentsMs Herdesrsquo professional career includes over 20 years of senior level planning and environmental consulting experience in both private and public organizations Serving as senior project manager and environmen-tal analyst for three major environmental companies Ms Herdes has directed a multitude of environmental and planning projects She also served as senior environmental planner with the City of San DiegoPrior to joining RECON Ms Herdes was employed at a local consulting firm As business manager she was responsible for all of the companyrsquos financial matters including reporting planning and budgeting Under Ms Herdesrsquo expert leadership the organization doubled in size and experi-enced a tremendous increase in revenue Ms Herdes was honored as a 2004 recipient of the prestigious YMCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award the largest and most promi-nent event in San Diego County recognizing the achievements of women business executives Ms Herdes holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of science in botany
APA Membership
Becoming an American Planning Association member is easy The APA website httpwwwplanningorg offers online mem-
bership services To sign up go to httpwwwplanningorgjoinapa You may also reactivate your membership change your contact information and join up for additional services on the national web-siteAs a Planner there are many benefits by becoming involved in the American Planning Association (APA) Whether you are interested in staying on top of current industry events taking advantage of network opportunities discussing planning issues or just looking for a new job APA is there to help facilitate it As a professional organization APA brings together people who share an interest in working towards better-planned communities APA aims to improve your career by providing opportunities to become more engaged in your profession As a national professional organiza-tion APA is highly recognized by private public and academic entities as being on the forefront of the planning profession
APA creates an opportunity to expand your career As a memberbull Use APA resources to stay up to date on policy issuesbull You are encouraged to become AICP certified American Institute
of Certified Planners (AICP) is a designation for those who choose to take their profession one step further AICP allows you to become a credible planner and show those around you that you are trained as a certified planner In addition our local San Diego APA section offers professional development workshops and luncheons to keep professionals up to date on local planning issues
bull Get recognized Annual conferences and award ceremonies for national state and
local sections offer a way for projects and hard work to be recognized by your professional peers and exchange ideas
To keep members up-to-date on national trends local news and innovative ideas APA provides a number of publications National state and special interest divisions produce monthly periodicals and the San Diego local sec-tion issues a regular newsletter Local workshops luncheons and get-togethers provide an edge for net-working and meeting fellow planners The San Diego APA section calendar can be found on our website httpwwwsdapaorg and each month we offers a variety functions outings and social events to take part in
For students becoming a member of APA is an incredible tool in learning to navigate the professional world of planning The organization offers students discounted rates for membership functions and events including the state and national conferences held once a year To increase the student capabilities the San Diego APA sec-tion encourages involvement from local city planning and urban studies academic programs and has recently offered a scholarship award for local studentsThe most helpful resource and simplest way to stay involved with whatrsquos with happening locally and around the world is to sign up for email notices on the APA websites (National wwwplanningorg and locally wwwsdapaorg ) To become a member visit APArsquos websitehttpwwwplanningorgjoinapa
UC San Diego Extension Urban Planning amp Development
Reach your career goals with practical education through UC San Diego Extension Learn the fundamentals that define planning in both
California and the San Diego region and discover the factors that impact development ndash like the environment and preservation Learn how to plan for community needs and protect one of the worldrsquos most enviable environ-ments Study the theory methods and practice of financing private and public development projects Get practice in a range of communication techniques designed to help you advance your projects Learn how to achieve your planning objectives
For more information on Urban Planning amp Development courses please contact Betsy Stiles at estilesucsdedu or (858) 882-8020 or visit httpextensionucsdedubusiness
9
httpwwwurscorpcom
httpwwwdwgconsultingorgpages1indexhtm
httpwwwgreystoneus
httplightfootpgcom
httpwwwdyettandbhatiacom
httpwwweconrescom
httpwwwhofmanplanningcom
httpwwwjonesandstokescom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom
San Diego Sect ionBoard Members
Section Director Bill Chopyk AICP6196671187
bchopykcila-mesacaus
Past Section Director Lance Schulte AICP7609666683
lschultenctdorg
Treasurer Carey Fernandes AICP7604794299
cfernandesdudekcom
Secretary Jerry McLees AICP6192331454 x 355mcleesjedawcom
Membership Chair Sara Osborn 6195333945
SOsbornsandiegogovNewsletter Editor Rich Brasher PE AICP
7608913217richbrasherstanteccom
Programs Co-Chair Elisa Marrone6192584100 x 152
eamarronehotmailcom
Programs Co-Chair Dan Wery AICP8586145081
dweryrbfcom
Webmaster Greg Konar AICP6198813265
gregkprojectdesigncom
Legislative Chair Kiley Lyons6192432957
kiley_lyonsurscorpcom
Awards Chair Chantelle Swaby8586943731
chantelleswabysdcountycagov
Professional Development (AICP) Stan Donn AICP6194095953
Sdonncichula-vistacaus
Professional Development (Wkshp) Brooke Peterson AICP8585788964
bpetersonjsanetcom
Marketing Sarah Lozano7604794251
slozanodudekcomAcademic LiaisonMentor Programs Kevin Grant
8584533602kgrantpacificmunicipalcom
Imperial Valley RAC Elizabeth Shoemaker7603371533 ext1104
epshoemakerdrhortoncomStudent Representative - UCSD Grant Jensen
jensengrantgmailcom
The Planning JournalWeb Page wwwsdapaorg
Newsletter Editor Rich Brasher PE AICPrichbrasherstanteccom
2
SDAPA Planning AwardsJune 7 2007It is that time of year again The 2007 SDAPA Awards Banquet will be taking place on Thursday June 7th 2007 This is sure to be a fun and memorable event so mark your calendars today and plan on celebrating the best in San Diego County Planning with us See flyer for more informationDownload Flyer
SDAPA Planning Awards Sponsorship OpportunitiesGet your name out there Being a sponsor of the SDAPA Planning Awards is a great way to gain company recognition and to support a great event at the same time The event is host to almost 150 planning peers and this year will be the most exciting event yet Donrsquot miss out There are many ways to become involved Becoming a sponsor has never been easier Online credit card contributions are now being accepted For more information please contactChantelle Swaby 858-694-3731 Online Sponsorships
Greenovation Series LaunchAccelerating the Regionrsquos Green Tech SectorMay 7 2007 at 530 PM
The Greenovation Forum is a new series of events that will ldquofacilitate and accelerate innovation dialogue and action in San Diegorsquos green technology sectorrdquo
It is being spearheaded by UCSD the Scripps Foundation the San Diego Foundation the Next Earth Foundation the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Environment and Sustainability Initiative at UCSD in conjunction with industry government philanthropy and social-benefit organizations to nurture sustainable development practices
The first series will be held on Monday May 7 2007 at 530 pm at UCSD
Please see the invitation if yoursquore interested and please feel free to forward this information to anyone you think might be interested
Contact for the event is Ann Van Leer Principal Broker Land Conservation Brokerage4079 Governor Drive 330 San Diego CA 92122858-452-2027 land 858-452-7419 fax 858-442-0937 cellannlandconservecom wwwlandconservecom
URBAN WATERFRONTS 25 THE NEXT WAVEThe Waterfront Centerrsquos Annual International Conference
November 1-3 2007Seaport HotelBoston Massachusettswwwwaterfrontcenterorg
Events Calendar
3
Continued on Page 5
Recent ProgramsLocal APA Hosts First-Ever Regional Planning Workshop for Planning CommissionersBy Amanda Kirkman SDSU MCP Student and SANDAG Intern
On January 19 2007 the San Diego Section of the American Planning Association in conjunction with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Caltrans District 11 and the League of California Cities sponsored a workshop designed for local Planning Commissioners citizen advisory group members citizen planners and planning staffs to provide information on San Diegorsquos regional plans and programs and how they
interact with city and county planning
Opening remarks were made by Kathy Garcia Planning Commissioner for the City of San Diego and Lance Schulte Past San Diego Section APA President Bob Leiter Director of Planning for SANDAG then provided an introduction to regional planning and an overview of SANDAGrsquos Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP) and Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
The workshop consisted of breakout sessions where participants were given the option of attending two out of four discussions Land Use and Urban Form Transportation Regional Public Facilities and Natural Environment After the breakout sessions optional discussions of geographically-based sub-regional planning issues were offered Discussion topics from the breakout sessions are described below
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS
Land Use and Urban Form The Land Use and Urban Form session included a brief overview of the San Diego Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP) and key implementation efforts underway as well as a summary of functions performed by San Diegorsquos Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Coleen Clementson described the Smart Growth planning strategy contained in the RCP which was adopted by the region in July 2004 In addition she discussed the Smart Growth Concept Map which identifies nearly 200 existing planned or potential smart growth areas near existing planned or potential public transit stations and explained the Maprsquos relationship to the TransNet-funded SANDAG Smart Growth Incentive Program that will make $7 million available annually to local jurisdictions to plan for or develop smart growth near public transit Keith Greer summarized another key compo-nent of smart growth planning and an important element in the RCP regional habitat planning Keith provided an overview of the status of regional and subregional habitat planning programs including the TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) which will provide $850 million over the next 40 years to mitigate environmental impacts associated with regional transportation improvements He also explained how the EMP will assist in implemen-tation of the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) and the Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (MHCP) through land acquisition manage-ment and monitoring Mike Ott described the role LAFCO plays in discouraging urban sprawl and ensuring orderly development in the San Diego region He also answered questions about the spheres on influence and the annexation process
Transportation The transportation session covered regional transportation topics from SANDAG Caltrans the Port of San Diego and the San Diego Regional Airport Authority Phil Trom from SANDAG presented highlights of the SANDAG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the Early Action Program that SANDAG is undertaking with TransNet funding Bill Figge from Caltrans then discussed how Caltrans coordinates with SANDAG to imple-ment transportation projects and how it also coordinates with the State to develop and update the State Transportation Improvement Program Angela Shafer-Payne from the Airport Authority discussed the Airport Master Plan and how the Airport Authority is looking at ways to improve efficiency at Lindbergh Field through on-site modifications She also mentioned the need to continue to develop collaborative efforts with other airports and Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans in the San Diego region as a way of enhancing regional efficiency and capacity Bill Briggs followed up the airport con-versation with a presentation on the Port of San Diego and its role in providing regional goods movement encouraging tourism and supporting the jobs and revenue produced by the 5800 acres of land managed by the Port along the San Diego Bay
Public Facilities Jane Signaigo-Cox from SANDAG talked about the regional public facilities that are addressed in the Integrated Regional Infrastructure Strategy (IRIS) contained within the Regional Comprehensive Plan The focus of this session was on three of the eight public facility infra-structure networks identified in the RCP ndash water energy and stormwater Dana Friehauf with the San Diego County Water Authority (Water Authority) explained that the mission of the Water Authority is to provide a safe and reliable supply of water to its member agencies The Water Authority is the wholesale water agency serving 23 retail water agencies in the San Diego region Dana stressed how the Water Authority relies upon SANDAG and its member agencies for forecasted growth projections to calculate demands and plan for future water supplies Andrew McAllister with the San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) explained that his organizationrsquos mission is to foster public policies and provide programs and information that facili-tate the adoption of clean reliable renewable sustainable and efficient energy technologies Andrew explained the incentives available through the California Solar Initiative over the next decade to promote installation of solar energy systems within an overall ldquogreeningrdquo strategy As for stormwater management Bruce Posthumous with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) stressed the need to go beyond enhancing water quality by protecting watershed health with the focus on recognizing and addressing threats to watershed health before they arise
4
Natural Environment The workshop session on the Natural Environment included speakers in the areas of shoreline management air quality and habitat preservation Shelby Tucker from SANDAG discussed the Shoreline Preservation Strategy and the future of regional beach sand replenishment A discussion on the Environmental Mitigation Program and the regionrsquos habitat conservation plans was led by Susan Wynn from the US Fish and Wildlife Service And Andy Hamilton from the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) discussed the APCDrsquos role in regional air quality planning and regula-tion
SUBREGIONAL ROUNDTABLES
Following the break-out sessions participants interested in planning issues related to particular sub-regions of San Diego were given the opportunity to attend roundtable discussions pertaining to North County Central San Diego East County and South County
North County The North County roundtable discussion began with SANDAG and NCTD staff speaking about North County projects and the following issues land use smart growth transportation transit and environmental and public facilities Participants expressed concern about the effects that future growth will have on the region specifically on open space and habitat Planning commissioners noted that the issue of locating residential uses adjacent to manufacturing and industrial uses can generate land use conflicts SANDAG staff noted that this ldquoco-locationrdquo issue is one that is affecting many jurisdictions in the region Participants also expressed the need to ensure that higher densitysmart growth projects are well-designed pedestrian-oriented and respect the character of the adjacent uses
Central San Diego The Central San Diego group discussed projects and issues surrounding smart growth A staff member from the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) mentioned a mixed-use project proposed at the Euclid Transit Center and a participant from the Port District explained their approach to maritime leasing and issues related to goods movement planning The group also discussed SANDAGrsquos Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP) Smart Growth Concept Map the 2007 Regional Transportation Plan and how to address community concerns over density
East County The East County group discussed some of the smart growth planning efforts underway in the area including the Lemon Grove Downtown Specific Plan the La Mesa Mixed Use Strategic Implementation Plan the Trolley Square development in Santee and the planning effort currently underway in El Cajon to create transit supportive land uses and connections to the civic center for the El Cajon Transit Center The speakers also reviewed some of the regional transportation initiatives that have been completed or are underway in the area like the extension of SR-52 Issues raised by the participants included the desire for a variety of housing and transportation choices and the need to provide better pedestrian connections to trolley stations
South County The South County discussion started off with an overview of major land use projects happening in South Bay The discussion focused on the smart growth areas identified in Chula Vista National City Imperial Beach Coronado San Ysidro and Otay Mesa and on significant develop-ment projects happening in these areas including the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan the future university and Eastern Urban Center in eastern Chula Vista redevelopment projects planned in downtown National City and the San Ysidro ldquoMi Pueblordquo Pilot Project In addition an overview of the improvements to the transportation network and major transit services was provided including the South Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project SR-905 SR-11 the South Bay Expressway (SR-125) Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 The international border with Mexico was also discussed with informa-tion provided on the two existing ports of entry at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa the future port of entry proposed east of the current Otay Mesa crossing and the Otay Mesa ndash Mesa de Otay Strategic Plan currently under development with participants from both sides of the border Maritime projects being coordinated by the Port of San Diego were highlighted and energy issues impacting South County were also discussed Finally the possibility of a new Chargers stadium in National City or Chula Vista was briefly raised
EVALUATIONS
Many participants commented that the workshop was very informational and provided a nice overview of the larger regional perspective in relation to local planning One participant stated the workshop offered a ldquogreat opportunity to define how several agencies are woven into the fabric of lsquolocal planningrsquordquo and another suggested scheduling a workshop like this twice a year to provide relevant information on current planning projects within the region Other suggestions were to increase the allotted time for the breakout sessions to provide more time for questions and answers as well as spend more time discussing specific planning and transportation projects and programs Overall the first Planning Commissionerrsquos Workshop ldquoThe ABCrsquos of Regional Planning in San Diegordquo was well attended and generated valuable discussion on the relationship between regional plans and programs and local planning efforts
YOUR CHANCE TO WEIGH IN
Based on the evaluation forms APA is considering teaming up with SANDAG Caltrans and the League of California Cities to conduct this workshop again next year What do YOU think If you attended let us know If you didnrsquot attend but would be interested in a future workshop focused on the relationship between regional and local planning let us know Your feedback is important to us Please send your e-mails to Lschultenctdorg
Continued From Page 3
5
PointCounter Point for Form-Based Code for Bird RockTenets of Form-Based Code From Mike Stepner and Howard Blackson
That infill developments with a mix of uses and of a smaller scale should be the preferred pattern of development and to discourage projects
specializing in single uses or repetitive architecture on several parcelsThat buildings and landscaping should contribute to the physical definition of thoroughfares as public spacesThat development should adequately accommodate for automobiles while respecting the pedestrian and the spatial forms of public spacesForm-Based Code for Bird Rock
Blog From Pat Flannery ndash ldquoBird Rock will look like a 19th century English coal-mining townrdquo 032007
They will loudly condemn the old restrictive ldquoEuclidianrdquo concept of sepa-rating land uses and banish such thinking to the lower reaches of plan-
ning hell They will crown their god ldquoFormrdquo the Adonis of planning They will proclaim a new age right here in beautiful downtown Bird Rock aka Baja La Jolla httpwwwblogofsandiegocom
Rose Canyon Follow-upSan Diego CityBeat article
City Council Rescinds Decision To Proceed With Regents Road Bridge
Friends of Rose Canyonrsquos lawsuit forces City Council to do an about-face City Council votes to do a brand new EIR Major Victory for
Friends of Rose Canyon City capitulates before the case is heard in courtRose Canyonrsquos Great Escape
Canyonlands Follow-up - Saving the Canyonby Dave Good
By the late 1990s the Canyon at 32nd Street was on the verge of environ-mental blight It took the threat of development however to unite neigh-bors to save the once-pristine habitathttpwwwsandiegomagazinecommediaSan-Diego-MagazineApril-200732nd-Street-Canyon-Clean-Up
Road TripRoute 50 Trip BackgroundwwwRte50com
Between the Memorial Day weekend amp July 10th Irsquoll be reporting for the Planning Commissioners Journal on planning and land-use related
issues facing communities along US Route 50 from coast-to-coast Irsquoll be posting updates here most every day -- text audio and visual images I hope yoursquoll join in this learning experience by following our web blog You can sign up for our feed or to be alerted when I post new reports (see the left panel) For more background on this trip and how you can help support us see my first postWayne Senville Editor Planning Commissioners Journal
Regional Planning Topics
Continued on Page 6
Rancho Guejito Threatened with Subdivision for New Urban DevelopmentBy Bruce Coons
Rancho Guejito is the best last most important most beautiful and most intact Mexican land grant It is the least spoiled portion of
coastal California from the Mexican border to above Santa Barbarahttpsohosandiegoorgreflections2007-1guejito_coverhtm
Rancho Guejito ndash A Call for ProtectionLetter to Elected Officials
The undersigned organizations enthusiastically endorse the protection of the 21000-acre Rancho Guejito located east of Valley Center It
is one of the most important properties in California Herersquos why
The ranch contains the best preserved Mexican land grant in Southern California that is still in private ownership and remains undeveloped Its Old California history and cattle ranch ndash in their original setting and con-text ndash provide an unparalleled opportunity for education and interpreta-tion Here our children can understand their past
Culturally important as an ancestral area to the Kumeyaay and Luiseno ndash the Native Americans of the area ndash it is rich in archeological history and considered a sacred site
With clean water from pristine watersheds the large expanses of open space are irreplaceable habitat for San Diegorsquos wildlife Golden eagles and mountain lions find ldquoroom to roamrdquo The ranch is a critical ecologi-cal link between coastal habitats and the adjoining higher elevation Cleveland National Forest
Twenty different plant communities including one of the last strongholds of the rare Engelmann oak support high biological diversity including endangered species and 16 types of raptors The mosaic of oak wood-lands expansive grasslands vernal pools and riparian areas is unparal-leled in the county Opportunities for scientific study abound
Once planned for acquisition as a state park preservation could provide unique recreational opportunities for urban populations and maintain the quality of life that attracts high-wage businesses to San Diego and keeps our economy strong
The beauty of Rancho Guejito is legendary ndash a place where time has stood still Its sun-drenched hills endless seas of grass sparkling creeks forests of great oaks granite outcrops and immense solitude must continue to inspire us
Large scale development on Rancho Guejito as recently proposed would do irreparable harm to San Diegorsquos historic cultural and envi-ronmental identity Such ldquoleapfrogrdquo development would also burden the taxpayer with costly infrastructure extension and service provision We ask for your help in averting this outcome
Let us pursue ldquowin-winrdquo solutions that reward the excellent stewardship by past owners and the current owner the Coates family Letrsquos invest in
6
our future by preserving its past Using funds now available from local state and federal sources an unprecedented legacy can be created for the family for our elected leaders and for the people of California Please support the protection of this natural and historic treasure
We look forward to working with you
SincerelyClare Billet Managing Director San Diego Conservation Resources NetworkJames Birkelund Attorney Natural Resources Defense Council Janet Cobb President California Oak FoundationBruce Coons Executive Director Save Our Heritage OrganisationTom Golich President San Dieguito River Valley ConservancyDave Grubb Chair North County Coastal Group Sierra ClubRichard W Halsey Director California Chaparral InstituteDavid Hogan Conservation Manager Center for Biological DiversityRick Landavazo Chair The Friends of Hellhole Canyon Open Space PreserveMargaret McCown Liles President Escondido Chamber of CitizensCarolyn Martus President San Diego Chapter California Native Plant SocietyAndy Mauro Conservation Chair Buena Vista Audubon SocietyDiane Nygaard President Preserve CalaveraJames A Peugh Conservation Committee Chair San Diego Audubon SocietyJune Rady President The Escondido Creek ConservancyDan Silver Executive Director Endangered Habitats LeagueDavid Toler Council Member San Pasqual Band of Juanentildeo Mission Indians of CaliforniaWallace Tucker Chair Fallbrook Land ConservancyMichael D White PhD San Diego Director Conservation Biology InstituteFred Woods President Friends of Daley RanchJoe Zechman Chair San Diego Chapter Sierra Club
Leave No Child Inside
The growing movement to reconnect children and natureby Richard Louv
httpwwwsdearthtimescomet0407et0407s5html
The San Diego River Valley
From the earliest days the San Diego River has been critical to our community For thousands of years this has been true Today the
River is now considered a polluted waterway by the EPA You can be part of the effort to clean up our river and restore its health You can also be part of the incredible effort underway to establish a bright future for our
Continued from Page 5 river as we celebrate it with a river-long park system The San Diego River Park will stretch 52 miles from the mountains to the oceanYou are vital to the success of these effortsWonrsquot you join us httpwwwsandiegoriverorg
What About GailThe Los Angeles Times drew up an interesting profile of Gail Goldberg who spearheads planning for our neighbor to the north Goldberg is San Diegorsquos former planning director According to the article Goldberg has become one of the most recognized faces around the big cityrsquos government since moving there in late 2005
In the 15 months since she was hired away from San Diego by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Goldbergrsquos public profile has steadily grown owing to hundreds of appearances before community groups who can spot her just as quickly as their photogenic mayor and tough-talking police chief
At once plain-spoken funny motherly charismatic and diplomatic Goldberg at 63 finds herself in a position to determine whether a city tolerant of sprawl traffic and cheap architecture can grow elegantly She too represents the mayorrsquos radical new take on Los Angeles Both are determined to rebuild some of the cityrsquos old neighborhoods and make them taller denser and linked to mass transit
MSCP Follow upOnce a National Model Habitat Plan Faces Uncertain Futurehttpwwwvoiceofsandiegoorgarticles20070416news02mscp041607txtVoice of San DiegoBy Rob Davis Voice Staff Writer ltmailtorobdavisvoiceofsandiegoorggt Monday April 16 2007 | A decade ago environmentalists developers and politicians celebrated their agreement on a blueprint for the future develop-ment and conservation of land in the city of San DiegoThe Multiple Species Conservation Program as it is called outlined a regional approach to habitat planning Instead of the piecemeal project-by-project development of the past the plan was designed to preserve the most biologically significant lands remaining in San DiegoThe idea was almost unprecedented That developers environmentalists and politicians agreed on a plan to protect 85 species was celebrated across the nation The New York Timesrsquo editorial page said the decision ldquomeans a virtual Noahrsquos Ark of endangered plant and animal life will now have a fighting chance to survive the relentless development that has dis-figured so much of Southern CaliforniardquoBut a year after its 1997 approval 14 environmental groups sued the city and US Fish and Wildlife Service over the plan The suit came after one of the first development projects approved using the blueprint paved over dozens of small wetlands habitats known as vernal pools The Cousins Marketcenter project in Mira Mesa left behind just one pool of 67 the habi-tat plan called for them to be avoided to the maximum extent practicalIn a court decision released late last year a judge scolded the officials who approved that project US District Court Judge Rudi Brewster said the
Continued on Page 7
7
conservation blueprint may hasten the extinction of the very species it is supposed to protect The decision was a serious blow to a plan that was once considered a national modelThe habitat conservation plan enabled the city of San Diego to issue permits to developers allowing them kill some of the 85 protected species which range from the prolific Canada goose to the threatened California gnatcatcher
Continued from Page 6
AnnouncementsSDAPA Academic Liason Mentor Program - Did you know that SDAPA has a Mentor Program that matches planning students with planning professionals Students and faculty members are encouraged to utilize our SDAPA Board liaison to communicate and network between the PlanningGeographyUrban Studies Departments of the San Diego region universities and the professional planning community The liaison is also tasked with assisting student representatives in organizing interested students in becoming more involved in the planning community prior to commencement For more information please contact Kevin Grant at kgrantpacificmunicipalcom or 858-342-8808
Mail-List - Receive the latest SDAPA and news and job announcements by subscribing to our e-mail list No charge Subscribe
Jobs Available - Check here for the latest San Diego Planning jobs Go to jobs
SDAPA Planning Library - Download PowerPoint presentations and workshop materials from SDAPA sponsored workshops and luncheons Download Presentations
Request for Proposals - SDAPA is now accepting RFP documents in downloadable PDF format for posting on our jobs announcements page Go to jobs page
Announcement Requests - Please submit announcement requests by e-mail to gregkprojectdesigncom Announcements should be rele-vant to the San Diego planning community Please see sample announce-ment request Download sample announcement request
Cal State Fullerton Offers Urban Planning Certificate
Advance your career with a Certificate in Urban Planning from Cal State Fullerton Extension This program is designed for current planners
as well as those new to the field and classes begin on June 7 at 630 pm Enrollment opens on April 2 2007 at wwwcsufextensionorgclassescertificate For more information contact Mimi Lawson mlawsonfullertonedu or 7142783313
Environmental Planning Seminars at theUniversity of California Irvine Extension
Cultural Resources and Land Development in California Wednesday April 25 9am-430pm Room 212 UCI Learning Center 200 S
Manchester Orange $225 including materialsIntroduction to NEPA Wednesday May 23 9am-430pm Room 210 UCI Learning Center 200 S Manchester Orange $225 including materi-alsTo enroll wwwextensionuciedu or 949-824-5414For more information 949-824-6538 or japurewauciedu
MW Steele Reorganizes Leadership Staff Positions Itself for Future
MW Steele a prominent architecture and planning firm in San Diego has undergone an internal reorganization to better serve cli-
ents and adapt to a changing business atmosphere in San DiegoldquoMW Steele is evolving to keep pace with the dynamic marketplace spurred by San Diegorsquos phenomenal growth over the past decaderdquo said Mark Steele the companyrsquos president ldquoA new generation of leaders within the firm has stepped up to help MW Steele grow and adaptrdquoThe firm is moving from a single-leader business model to a team approach spreading leadership responsibility among several new princi-pals all of whom have been with the firm for a significant period of timeldquoEach member of this team has contributed to the growth and success of MW Steele over the yearsrdquo Steele said ldquoThis evolution will allow MW Steele to continue to offer its clients innovative and creative thoughts ideas and designs that have made the firm so successfulrdquoMW Steele was formed in the early 1980s as a small firm focusing on small architecture and planning projects Since then it has evolved with more and diverse urban design architecture and policy planning efforts ldquoThis diversification must continue if the firm is to thrive in todayrsquos com-plex and challenging building environmentrdquo said Jennifer Ayala Director of ProjectsThe Cityrsquos urban neighborhoods have become more richly defined over the years offering new avenues and vistas for creative design and plan-ning MW Steele has always been forward-thinking when it comes to urban design It has become uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in larger community planning projects and efforts and compete on a state-wide level Although the company is reorganizing its core values and philosophies will remain the sameldquoThe companyrsquos new principals share the same ideals that created and sustained the firm from its inception nearly a quarter-century agordquo Steele said Steele will continue to serve in a leadership capacity for the fore-seeable future however ownership of the firm will gradually shift to the new principals over time
8
Accomplished Environmental Planning Professional Bobbi Herdes Joins San Diego Environmental Consulting Firm
Bobbi Herdes a skilled and experienced professional recently joined RECON Environmental Inc in San Diego Ms Herdes brings a
breath and depth of knowledge and ability as well as an exemplary record of achievements In her new position as Senior Project Manager at RECON Ms Herdes manages teams of technical experts in preparation of environmental documents (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] and National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]) for an array of large-scale projects throughout southern California Ms Herdes directs a full range of com-plex projects including roadways infrastructure urban redevelopment and mixed-use commercial industrial and residential developmentsMs Herdesrsquo professional career includes over 20 years of senior level planning and environmental consulting experience in both private and public organizations Serving as senior project manager and environmen-tal analyst for three major environmental companies Ms Herdes has directed a multitude of environmental and planning projects She also served as senior environmental planner with the City of San DiegoPrior to joining RECON Ms Herdes was employed at a local consulting firm As business manager she was responsible for all of the companyrsquos financial matters including reporting planning and budgeting Under Ms Herdesrsquo expert leadership the organization doubled in size and experi-enced a tremendous increase in revenue Ms Herdes was honored as a 2004 recipient of the prestigious YMCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award the largest and most promi-nent event in San Diego County recognizing the achievements of women business executives Ms Herdes holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of science in botany
APA Membership
Becoming an American Planning Association member is easy The APA website httpwwwplanningorg offers online mem-
bership services To sign up go to httpwwwplanningorgjoinapa You may also reactivate your membership change your contact information and join up for additional services on the national web-siteAs a Planner there are many benefits by becoming involved in the American Planning Association (APA) Whether you are interested in staying on top of current industry events taking advantage of network opportunities discussing planning issues or just looking for a new job APA is there to help facilitate it As a professional organization APA brings together people who share an interest in working towards better-planned communities APA aims to improve your career by providing opportunities to become more engaged in your profession As a national professional organiza-tion APA is highly recognized by private public and academic entities as being on the forefront of the planning profession
APA creates an opportunity to expand your career As a memberbull Use APA resources to stay up to date on policy issuesbull You are encouraged to become AICP certified American Institute
of Certified Planners (AICP) is a designation for those who choose to take their profession one step further AICP allows you to become a credible planner and show those around you that you are trained as a certified planner In addition our local San Diego APA section offers professional development workshops and luncheons to keep professionals up to date on local planning issues
bull Get recognized Annual conferences and award ceremonies for national state and
local sections offer a way for projects and hard work to be recognized by your professional peers and exchange ideas
To keep members up-to-date on national trends local news and innovative ideas APA provides a number of publications National state and special interest divisions produce monthly periodicals and the San Diego local sec-tion issues a regular newsletter Local workshops luncheons and get-togethers provide an edge for net-working and meeting fellow planners The San Diego APA section calendar can be found on our website httpwwwsdapaorg and each month we offers a variety functions outings and social events to take part in
For students becoming a member of APA is an incredible tool in learning to navigate the professional world of planning The organization offers students discounted rates for membership functions and events including the state and national conferences held once a year To increase the student capabilities the San Diego APA sec-tion encourages involvement from local city planning and urban studies academic programs and has recently offered a scholarship award for local studentsThe most helpful resource and simplest way to stay involved with whatrsquos with happening locally and around the world is to sign up for email notices on the APA websites (National wwwplanningorg and locally wwwsdapaorg ) To become a member visit APArsquos websitehttpwwwplanningorgjoinapa
UC San Diego Extension Urban Planning amp Development
Reach your career goals with practical education through UC San Diego Extension Learn the fundamentals that define planning in both
California and the San Diego region and discover the factors that impact development ndash like the environment and preservation Learn how to plan for community needs and protect one of the worldrsquos most enviable environ-ments Study the theory methods and practice of financing private and public development projects Get practice in a range of communication techniques designed to help you advance your projects Learn how to achieve your planning objectives
For more information on Urban Planning amp Development courses please contact Betsy Stiles at estilesucsdedu or (858) 882-8020 or visit httpextensionucsdedubusiness
9
httpwwwurscorpcom
httpwwwdwgconsultingorgpages1indexhtm
httpwwwgreystoneus
httplightfootpgcom
httpwwwdyettandbhatiacom
httpwwweconrescom
httpwwwhofmanplanningcom
httpwwwjonesandstokescom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom
3
Continued on Page 5
Recent ProgramsLocal APA Hosts First-Ever Regional Planning Workshop for Planning CommissionersBy Amanda Kirkman SDSU MCP Student and SANDAG Intern
On January 19 2007 the San Diego Section of the American Planning Association in conjunction with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Caltrans District 11 and the League of California Cities sponsored a workshop designed for local Planning Commissioners citizen advisory group members citizen planners and planning staffs to provide information on San Diegorsquos regional plans and programs and how they
interact with city and county planning
Opening remarks were made by Kathy Garcia Planning Commissioner for the City of San Diego and Lance Schulte Past San Diego Section APA President Bob Leiter Director of Planning for SANDAG then provided an introduction to regional planning and an overview of SANDAGrsquos Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP) and Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
The workshop consisted of breakout sessions where participants were given the option of attending two out of four discussions Land Use and Urban Form Transportation Regional Public Facilities and Natural Environment After the breakout sessions optional discussions of geographically-based sub-regional planning issues were offered Discussion topics from the breakout sessions are described below
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS
Land Use and Urban Form The Land Use and Urban Form session included a brief overview of the San Diego Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP) and key implementation efforts underway as well as a summary of functions performed by San Diegorsquos Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Coleen Clementson described the Smart Growth planning strategy contained in the RCP which was adopted by the region in July 2004 In addition she discussed the Smart Growth Concept Map which identifies nearly 200 existing planned or potential smart growth areas near existing planned or potential public transit stations and explained the Maprsquos relationship to the TransNet-funded SANDAG Smart Growth Incentive Program that will make $7 million available annually to local jurisdictions to plan for or develop smart growth near public transit Keith Greer summarized another key compo-nent of smart growth planning and an important element in the RCP regional habitat planning Keith provided an overview of the status of regional and subregional habitat planning programs including the TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) which will provide $850 million over the next 40 years to mitigate environmental impacts associated with regional transportation improvements He also explained how the EMP will assist in implemen-tation of the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) and the Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (MHCP) through land acquisition manage-ment and monitoring Mike Ott described the role LAFCO plays in discouraging urban sprawl and ensuring orderly development in the San Diego region He also answered questions about the spheres on influence and the annexation process
Transportation The transportation session covered regional transportation topics from SANDAG Caltrans the Port of San Diego and the San Diego Regional Airport Authority Phil Trom from SANDAG presented highlights of the SANDAG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the Early Action Program that SANDAG is undertaking with TransNet funding Bill Figge from Caltrans then discussed how Caltrans coordinates with SANDAG to imple-ment transportation projects and how it also coordinates with the State to develop and update the State Transportation Improvement Program Angela Shafer-Payne from the Airport Authority discussed the Airport Master Plan and how the Airport Authority is looking at ways to improve efficiency at Lindbergh Field through on-site modifications She also mentioned the need to continue to develop collaborative efforts with other airports and Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans in the San Diego region as a way of enhancing regional efficiency and capacity Bill Briggs followed up the airport con-versation with a presentation on the Port of San Diego and its role in providing regional goods movement encouraging tourism and supporting the jobs and revenue produced by the 5800 acres of land managed by the Port along the San Diego Bay
Public Facilities Jane Signaigo-Cox from SANDAG talked about the regional public facilities that are addressed in the Integrated Regional Infrastructure Strategy (IRIS) contained within the Regional Comprehensive Plan The focus of this session was on three of the eight public facility infra-structure networks identified in the RCP ndash water energy and stormwater Dana Friehauf with the San Diego County Water Authority (Water Authority) explained that the mission of the Water Authority is to provide a safe and reliable supply of water to its member agencies The Water Authority is the wholesale water agency serving 23 retail water agencies in the San Diego region Dana stressed how the Water Authority relies upon SANDAG and its member agencies for forecasted growth projections to calculate demands and plan for future water supplies Andrew McAllister with the San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) explained that his organizationrsquos mission is to foster public policies and provide programs and information that facili-tate the adoption of clean reliable renewable sustainable and efficient energy technologies Andrew explained the incentives available through the California Solar Initiative over the next decade to promote installation of solar energy systems within an overall ldquogreeningrdquo strategy As for stormwater management Bruce Posthumous with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) stressed the need to go beyond enhancing water quality by protecting watershed health with the focus on recognizing and addressing threats to watershed health before they arise
4
Natural Environment The workshop session on the Natural Environment included speakers in the areas of shoreline management air quality and habitat preservation Shelby Tucker from SANDAG discussed the Shoreline Preservation Strategy and the future of regional beach sand replenishment A discussion on the Environmental Mitigation Program and the regionrsquos habitat conservation plans was led by Susan Wynn from the US Fish and Wildlife Service And Andy Hamilton from the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) discussed the APCDrsquos role in regional air quality planning and regula-tion
SUBREGIONAL ROUNDTABLES
Following the break-out sessions participants interested in planning issues related to particular sub-regions of San Diego were given the opportunity to attend roundtable discussions pertaining to North County Central San Diego East County and South County
North County The North County roundtable discussion began with SANDAG and NCTD staff speaking about North County projects and the following issues land use smart growth transportation transit and environmental and public facilities Participants expressed concern about the effects that future growth will have on the region specifically on open space and habitat Planning commissioners noted that the issue of locating residential uses adjacent to manufacturing and industrial uses can generate land use conflicts SANDAG staff noted that this ldquoco-locationrdquo issue is one that is affecting many jurisdictions in the region Participants also expressed the need to ensure that higher densitysmart growth projects are well-designed pedestrian-oriented and respect the character of the adjacent uses
Central San Diego The Central San Diego group discussed projects and issues surrounding smart growth A staff member from the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) mentioned a mixed-use project proposed at the Euclid Transit Center and a participant from the Port District explained their approach to maritime leasing and issues related to goods movement planning The group also discussed SANDAGrsquos Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP) Smart Growth Concept Map the 2007 Regional Transportation Plan and how to address community concerns over density
East County The East County group discussed some of the smart growth planning efforts underway in the area including the Lemon Grove Downtown Specific Plan the La Mesa Mixed Use Strategic Implementation Plan the Trolley Square development in Santee and the planning effort currently underway in El Cajon to create transit supportive land uses and connections to the civic center for the El Cajon Transit Center The speakers also reviewed some of the regional transportation initiatives that have been completed or are underway in the area like the extension of SR-52 Issues raised by the participants included the desire for a variety of housing and transportation choices and the need to provide better pedestrian connections to trolley stations
South County The South County discussion started off with an overview of major land use projects happening in South Bay The discussion focused on the smart growth areas identified in Chula Vista National City Imperial Beach Coronado San Ysidro and Otay Mesa and on significant develop-ment projects happening in these areas including the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan the future university and Eastern Urban Center in eastern Chula Vista redevelopment projects planned in downtown National City and the San Ysidro ldquoMi Pueblordquo Pilot Project In addition an overview of the improvements to the transportation network and major transit services was provided including the South Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project SR-905 SR-11 the South Bay Expressway (SR-125) Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 The international border with Mexico was also discussed with informa-tion provided on the two existing ports of entry at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa the future port of entry proposed east of the current Otay Mesa crossing and the Otay Mesa ndash Mesa de Otay Strategic Plan currently under development with participants from both sides of the border Maritime projects being coordinated by the Port of San Diego were highlighted and energy issues impacting South County were also discussed Finally the possibility of a new Chargers stadium in National City or Chula Vista was briefly raised
EVALUATIONS
Many participants commented that the workshop was very informational and provided a nice overview of the larger regional perspective in relation to local planning One participant stated the workshop offered a ldquogreat opportunity to define how several agencies are woven into the fabric of lsquolocal planningrsquordquo and another suggested scheduling a workshop like this twice a year to provide relevant information on current planning projects within the region Other suggestions were to increase the allotted time for the breakout sessions to provide more time for questions and answers as well as spend more time discussing specific planning and transportation projects and programs Overall the first Planning Commissionerrsquos Workshop ldquoThe ABCrsquos of Regional Planning in San Diegordquo was well attended and generated valuable discussion on the relationship between regional plans and programs and local planning efforts
YOUR CHANCE TO WEIGH IN
Based on the evaluation forms APA is considering teaming up with SANDAG Caltrans and the League of California Cities to conduct this workshop again next year What do YOU think If you attended let us know If you didnrsquot attend but would be interested in a future workshop focused on the relationship between regional and local planning let us know Your feedback is important to us Please send your e-mails to Lschultenctdorg
Continued From Page 3
5
PointCounter Point for Form-Based Code for Bird RockTenets of Form-Based Code From Mike Stepner and Howard Blackson
That infill developments with a mix of uses and of a smaller scale should be the preferred pattern of development and to discourage projects
specializing in single uses or repetitive architecture on several parcelsThat buildings and landscaping should contribute to the physical definition of thoroughfares as public spacesThat development should adequately accommodate for automobiles while respecting the pedestrian and the spatial forms of public spacesForm-Based Code for Bird Rock
Blog From Pat Flannery ndash ldquoBird Rock will look like a 19th century English coal-mining townrdquo 032007
They will loudly condemn the old restrictive ldquoEuclidianrdquo concept of sepa-rating land uses and banish such thinking to the lower reaches of plan-
ning hell They will crown their god ldquoFormrdquo the Adonis of planning They will proclaim a new age right here in beautiful downtown Bird Rock aka Baja La Jolla httpwwwblogofsandiegocom
Rose Canyon Follow-upSan Diego CityBeat article
City Council Rescinds Decision To Proceed With Regents Road Bridge
Friends of Rose Canyonrsquos lawsuit forces City Council to do an about-face City Council votes to do a brand new EIR Major Victory for
Friends of Rose Canyon City capitulates before the case is heard in courtRose Canyonrsquos Great Escape
Canyonlands Follow-up - Saving the Canyonby Dave Good
By the late 1990s the Canyon at 32nd Street was on the verge of environ-mental blight It took the threat of development however to unite neigh-bors to save the once-pristine habitathttpwwwsandiegomagazinecommediaSan-Diego-MagazineApril-200732nd-Street-Canyon-Clean-Up
Road TripRoute 50 Trip BackgroundwwwRte50com
Between the Memorial Day weekend amp July 10th Irsquoll be reporting for the Planning Commissioners Journal on planning and land-use related
issues facing communities along US Route 50 from coast-to-coast Irsquoll be posting updates here most every day -- text audio and visual images I hope yoursquoll join in this learning experience by following our web blog You can sign up for our feed or to be alerted when I post new reports (see the left panel) For more background on this trip and how you can help support us see my first postWayne Senville Editor Planning Commissioners Journal
Regional Planning Topics
Continued on Page 6
Rancho Guejito Threatened with Subdivision for New Urban DevelopmentBy Bruce Coons
Rancho Guejito is the best last most important most beautiful and most intact Mexican land grant It is the least spoiled portion of
coastal California from the Mexican border to above Santa Barbarahttpsohosandiegoorgreflections2007-1guejito_coverhtm
Rancho Guejito ndash A Call for ProtectionLetter to Elected Officials
The undersigned organizations enthusiastically endorse the protection of the 21000-acre Rancho Guejito located east of Valley Center It
is one of the most important properties in California Herersquos why
The ranch contains the best preserved Mexican land grant in Southern California that is still in private ownership and remains undeveloped Its Old California history and cattle ranch ndash in their original setting and con-text ndash provide an unparalleled opportunity for education and interpreta-tion Here our children can understand their past
Culturally important as an ancestral area to the Kumeyaay and Luiseno ndash the Native Americans of the area ndash it is rich in archeological history and considered a sacred site
With clean water from pristine watersheds the large expanses of open space are irreplaceable habitat for San Diegorsquos wildlife Golden eagles and mountain lions find ldquoroom to roamrdquo The ranch is a critical ecologi-cal link between coastal habitats and the adjoining higher elevation Cleveland National Forest
Twenty different plant communities including one of the last strongholds of the rare Engelmann oak support high biological diversity including endangered species and 16 types of raptors The mosaic of oak wood-lands expansive grasslands vernal pools and riparian areas is unparal-leled in the county Opportunities for scientific study abound
Once planned for acquisition as a state park preservation could provide unique recreational opportunities for urban populations and maintain the quality of life that attracts high-wage businesses to San Diego and keeps our economy strong
The beauty of Rancho Guejito is legendary ndash a place where time has stood still Its sun-drenched hills endless seas of grass sparkling creeks forests of great oaks granite outcrops and immense solitude must continue to inspire us
Large scale development on Rancho Guejito as recently proposed would do irreparable harm to San Diegorsquos historic cultural and envi-ronmental identity Such ldquoleapfrogrdquo development would also burden the taxpayer with costly infrastructure extension and service provision We ask for your help in averting this outcome
Let us pursue ldquowin-winrdquo solutions that reward the excellent stewardship by past owners and the current owner the Coates family Letrsquos invest in
6
our future by preserving its past Using funds now available from local state and federal sources an unprecedented legacy can be created for the family for our elected leaders and for the people of California Please support the protection of this natural and historic treasure
We look forward to working with you
SincerelyClare Billet Managing Director San Diego Conservation Resources NetworkJames Birkelund Attorney Natural Resources Defense Council Janet Cobb President California Oak FoundationBruce Coons Executive Director Save Our Heritage OrganisationTom Golich President San Dieguito River Valley ConservancyDave Grubb Chair North County Coastal Group Sierra ClubRichard W Halsey Director California Chaparral InstituteDavid Hogan Conservation Manager Center for Biological DiversityRick Landavazo Chair The Friends of Hellhole Canyon Open Space PreserveMargaret McCown Liles President Escondido Chamber of CitizensCarolyn Martus President San Diego Chapter California Native Plant SocietyAndy Mauro Conservation Chair Buena Vista Audubon SocietyDiane Nygaard President Preserve CalaveraJames A Peugh Conservation Committee Chair San Diego Audubon SocietyJune Rady President The Escondido Creek ConservancyDan Silver Executive Director Endangered Habitats LeagueDavid Toler Council Member San Pasqual Band of Juanentildeo Mission Indians of CaliforniaWallace Tucker Chair Fallbrook Land ConservancyMichael D White PhD San Diego Director Conservation Biology InstituteFred Woods President Friends of Daley RanchJoe Zechman Chair San Diego Chapter Sierra Club
Leave No Child Inside
The growing movement to reconnect children and natureby Richard Louv
httpwwwsdearthtimescomet0407et0407s5html
The San Diego River Valley
From the earliest days the San Diego River has been critical to our community For thousands of years this has been true Today the
River is now considered a polluted waterway by the EPA You can be part of the effort to clean up our river and restore its health You can also be part of the incredible effort underway to establish a bright future for our
Continued from Page 5 river as we celebrate it with a river-long park system The San Diego River Park will stretch 52 miles from the mountains to the oceanYou are vital to the success of these effortsWonrsquot you join us httpwwwsandiegoriverorg
What About GailThe Los Angeles Times drew up an interesting profile of Gail Goldberg who spearheads planning for our neighbor to the north Goldberg is San Diegorsquos former planning director According to the article Goldberg has become one of the most recognized faces around the big cityrsquos government since moving there in late 2005
In the 15 months since she was hired away from San Diego by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Goldbergrsquos public profile has steadily grown owing to hundreds of appearances before community groups who can spot her just as quickly as their photogenic mayor and tough-talking police chief
At once plain-spoken funny motherly charismatic and diplomatic Goldberg at 63 finds herself in a position to determine whether a city tolerant of sprawl traffic and cheap architecture can grow elegantly She too represents the mayorrsquos radical new take on Los Angeles Both are determined to rebuild some of the cityrsquos old neighborhoods and make them taller denser and linked to mass transit
MSCP Follow upOnce a National Model Habitat Plan Faces Uncertain Futurehttpwwwvoiceofsandiegoorgarticles20070416news02mscp041607txtVoice of San DiegoBy Rob Davis Voice Staff Writer ltmailtorobdavisvoiceofsandiegoorggt Monday April 16 2007 | A decade ago environmentalists developers and politicians celebrated their agreement on a blueprint for the future develop-ment and conservation of land in the city of San DiegoThe Multiple Species Conservation Program as it is called outlined a regional approach to habitat planning Instead of the piecemeal project-by-project development of the past the plan was designed to preserve the most biologically significant lands remaining in San DiegoThe idea was almost unprecedented That developers environmentalists and politicians agreed on a plan to protect 85 species was celebrated across the nation The New York Timesrsquo editorial page said the decision ldquomeans a virtual Noahrsquos Ark of endangered plant and animal life will now have a fighting chance to survive the relentless development that has dis-figured so much of Southern CaliforniardquoBut a year after its 1997 approval 14 environmental groups sued the city and US Fish and Wildlife Service over the plan The suit came after one of the first development projects approved using the blueprint paved over dozens of small wetlands habitats known as vernal pools The Cousins Marketcenter project in Mira Mesa left behind just one pool of 67 the habi-tat plan called for them to be avoided to the maximum extent practicalIn a court decision released late last year a judge scolded the officials who approved that project US District Court Judge Rudi Brewster said the
Continued on Page 7
7
conservation blueprint may hasten the extinction of the very species it is supposed to protect The decision was a serious blow to a plan that was once considered a national modelThe habitat conservation plan enabled the city of San Diego to issue permits to developers allowing them kill some of the 85 protected species which range from the prolific Canada goose to the threatened California gnatcatcher
Continued from Page 6
AnnouncementsSDAPA Academic Liason Mentor Program - Did you know that SDAPA has a Mentor Program that matches planning students with planning professionals Students and faculty members are encouraged to utilize our SDAPA Board liaison to communicate and network between the PlanningGeographyUrban Studies Departments of the San Diego region universities and the professional planning community The liaison is also tasked with assisting student representatives in organizing interested students in becoming more involved in the planning community prior to commencement For more information please contact Kevin Grant at kgrantpacificmunicipalcom or 858-342-8808
Mail-List - Receive the latest SDAPA and news and job announcements by subscribing to our e-mail list No charge Subscribe
Jobs Available - Check here for the latest San Diego Planning jobs Go to jobs
SDAPA Planning Library - Download PowerPoint presentations and workshop materials from SDAPA sponsored workshops and luncheons Download Presentations
Request for Proposals - SDAPA is now accepting RFP documents in downloadable PDF format for posting on our jobs announcements page Go to jobs page
Announcement Requests - Please submit announcement requests by e-mail to gregkprojectdesigncom Announcements should be rele-vant to the San Diego planning community Please see sample announce-ment request Download sample announcement request
Cal State Fullerton Offers Urban Planning Certificate
Advance your career with a Certificate in Urban Planning from Cal State Fullerton Extension This program is designed for current planners
as well as those new to the field and classes begin on June 7 at 630 pm Enrollment opens on April 2 2007 at wwwcsufextensionorgclassescertificate For more information contact Mimi Lawson mlawsonfullertonedu or 7142783313
Environmental Planning Seminars at theUniversity of California Irvine Extension
Cultural Resources and Land Development in California Wednesday April 25 9am-430pm Room 212 UCI Learning Center 200 S
Manchester Orange $225 including materialsIntroduction to NEPA Wednesday May 23 9am-430pm Room 210 UCI Learning Center 200 S Manchester Orange $225 including materi-alsTo enroll wwwextensionuciedu or 949-824-5414For more information 949-824-6538 or japurewauciedu
MW Steele Reorganizes Leadership Staff Positions Itself for Future
MW Steele a prominent architecture and planning firm in San Diego has undergone an internal reorganization to better serve cli-
ents and adapt to a changing business atmosphere in San DiegoldquoMW Steele is evolving to keep pace with the dynamic marketplace spurred by San Diegorsquos phenomenal growth over the past decaderdquo said Mark Steele the companyrsquos president ldquoA new generation of leaders within the firm has stepped up to help MW Steele grow and adaptrdquoThe firm is moving from a single-leader business model to a team approach spreading leadership responsibility among several new princi-pals all of whom have been with the firm for a significant period of timeldquoEach member of this team has contributed to the growth and success of MW Steele over the yearsrdquo Steele said ldquoThis evolution will allow MW Steele to continue to offer its clients innovative and creative thoughts ideas and designs that have made the firm so successfulrdquoMW Steele was formed in the early 1980s as a small firm focusing on small architecture and planning projects Since then it has evolved with more and diverse urban design architecture and policy planning efforts ldquoThis diversification must continue if the firm is to thrive in todayrsquos com-plex and challenging building environmentrdquo said Jennifer Ayala Director of ProjectsThe Cityrsquos urban neighborhoods have become more richly defined over the years offering new avenues and vistas for creative design and plan-ning MW Steele has always been forward-thinking when it comes to urban design It has become uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in larger community planning projects and efforts and compete on a state-wide level Although the company is reorganizing its core values and philosophies will remain the sameldquoThe companyrsquos new principals share the same ideals that created and sustained the firm from its inception nearly a quarter-century agordquo Steele said Steele will continue to serve in a leadership capacity for the fore-seeable future however ownership of the firm will gradually shift to the new principals over time
8
Accomplished Environmental Planning Professional Bobbi Herdes Joins San Diego Environmental Consulting Firm
Bobbi Herdes a skilled and experienced professional recently joined RECON Environmental Inc in San Diego Ms Herdes brings a
breath and depth of knowledge and ability as well as an exemplary record of achievements In her new position as Senior Project Manager at RECON Ms Herdes manages teams of technical experts in preparation of environmental documents (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] and National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]) for an array of large-scale projects throughout southern California Ms Herdes directs a full range of com-plex projects including roadways infrastructure urban redevelopment and mixed-use commercial industrial and residential developmentsMs Herdesrsquo professional career includes over 20 years of senior level planning and environmental consulting experience in both private and public organizations Serving as senior project manager and environmen-tal analyst for three major environmental companies Ms Herdes has directed a multitude of environmental and planning projects She also served as senior environmental planner with the City of San DiegoPrior to joining RECON Ms Herdes was employed at a local consulting firm As business manager she was responsible for all of the companyrsquos financial matters including reporting planning and budgeting Under Ms Herdesrsquo expert leadership the organization doubled in size and experi-enced a tremendous increase in revenue Ms Herdes was honored as a 2004 recipient of the prestigious YMCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award the largest and most promi-nent event in San Diego County recognizing the achievements of women business executives Ms Herdes holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of science in botany
APA Membership
Becoming an American Planning Association member is easy The APA website httpwwwplanningorg offers online mem-
bership services To sign up go to httpwwwplanningorgjoinapa You may also reactivate your membership change your contact information and join up for additional services on the national web-siteAs a Planner there are many benefits by becoming involved in the American Planning Association (APA) Whether you are interested in staying on top of current industry events taking advantage of network opportunities discussing planning issues or just looking for a new job APA is there to help facilitate it As a professional organization APA brings together people who share an interest in working towards better-planned communities APA aims to improve your career by providing opportunities to become more engaged in your profession As a national professional organiza-tion APA is highly recognized by private public and academic entities as being on the forefront of the planning profession
APA creates an opportunity to expand your career As a memberbull Use APA resources to stay up to date on policy issuesbull You are encouraged to become AICP certified American Institute
of Certified Planners (AICP) is a designation for those who choose to take their profession one step further AICP allows you to become a credible planner and show those around you that you are trained as a certified planner In addition our local San Diego APA section offers professional development workshops and luncheons to keep professionals up to date on local planning issues
bull Get recognized Annual conferences and award ceremonies for national state and
local sections offer a way for projects and hard work to be recognized by your professional peers and exchange ideas
To keep members up-to-date on national trends local news and innovative ideas APA provides a number of publications National state and special interest divisions produce monthly periodicals and the San Diego local sec-tion issues a regular newsletter Local workshops luncheons and get-togethers provide an edge for net-working and meeting fellow planners The San Diego APA section calendar can be found on our website httpwwwsdapaorg and each month we offers a variety functions outings and social events to take part in
For students becoming a member of APA is an incredible tool in learning to navigate the professional world of planning The organization offers students discounted rates for membership functions and events including the state and national conferences held once a year To increase the student capabilities the San Diego APA sec-tion encourages involvement from local city planning and urban studies academic programs and has recently offered a scholarship award for local studentsThe most helpful resource and simplest way to stay involved with whatrsquos with happening locally and around the world is to sign up for email notices on the APA websites (National wwwplanningorg and locally wwwsdapaorg ) To become a member visit APArsquos websitehttpwwwplanningorgjoinapa
UC San Diego Extension Urban Planning amp Development
Reach your career goals with practical education through UC San Diego Extension Learn the fundamentals that define planning in both
California and the San Diego region and discover the factors that impact development ndash like the environment and preservation Learn how to plan for community needs and protect one of the worldrsquos most enviable environ-ments Study the theory methods and practice of financing private and public development projects Get practice in a range of communication techniques designed to help you advance your projects Learn how to achieve your planning objectives
For more information on Urban Planning amp Development courses please contact Betsy Stiles at estilesucsdedu or (858) 882-8020 or visit httpextensionucsdedubusiness
9
httpwwwurscorpcom
httpwwwdwgconsultingorgpages1indexhtm
httpwwwgreystoneus
httplightfootpgcom
httpwwwdyettandbhatiacom
httpwwweconrescom
httpwwwhofmanplanningcom
httpwwwjonesandstokescom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom
4
Natural Environment The workshop session on the Natural Environment included speakers in the areas of shoreline management air quality and habitat preservation Shelby Tucker from SANDAG discussed the Shoreline Preservation Strategy and the future of regional beach sand replenishment A discussion on the Environmental Mitigation Program and the regionrsquos habitat conservation plans was led by Susan Wynn from the US Fish and Wildlife Service And Andy Hamilton from the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) discussed the APCDrsquos role in regional air quality planning and regula-tion
SUBREGIONAL ROUNDTABLES
Following the break-out sessions participants interested in planning issues related to particular sub-regions of San Diego were given the opportunity to attend roundtable discussions pertaining to North County Central San Diego East County and South County
North County The North County roundtable discussion began with SANDAG and NCTD staff speaking about North County projects and the following issues land use smart growth transportation transit and environmental and public facilities Participants expressed concern about the effects that future growth will have on the region specifically on open space and habitat Planning commissioners noted that the issue of locating residential uses adjacent to manufacturing and industrial uses can generate land use conflicts SANDAG staff noted that this ldquoco-locationrdquo issue is one that is affecting many jurisdictions in the region Participants also expressed the need to ensure that higher densitysmart growth projects are well-designed pedestrian-oriented and respect the character of the adjacent uses
Central San Diego The Central San Diego group discussed projects and issues surrounding smart growth A staff member from the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) mentioned a mixed-use project proposed at the Euclid Transit Center and a participant from the Port District explained their approach to maritime leasing and issues related to goods movement planning The group also discussed SANDAGrsquos Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP) Smart Growth Concept Map the 2007 Regional Transportation Plan and how to address community concerns over density
East County The East County group discussed some of the smart growth planning efforts underway in the area including the Lemon Grove Downtown Specific Plan the La Mesa Mixed Use Strategic Implementation Plan the Trolley Square development in Santee and the planning effort currently underway in El Cajon to create transit supportive land uses and connections to the civic center for the El Cajon Transit Center The speakers also reviewed some of the regional transportation initiatives that have been completed or are underway in the area like the extension of SR-52 Issues raised by the participants included the desire for a variety of housing and transportation choices and the need to provide better pedestrian connections to trolley stations
South County The South County discussion started off with an overview of major land use projects happening in South Bay The discussion focused on the smart growth areas identified in Chula Vista National City Imperial Beach Coronado San Ysidro and Otay Mesa and on significant develop-ment projects happening in these areas including the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan the future university and Eastern Urban Center in eastern Chula Vista redevelopment projects planned in downtown National City and the San Ysidro ldquoMi Pueblordquo Pilot Project In addition an overview of the improvements to the transportation network and major transit services was provided including the South Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project SR-905 SR-11 the South Bay Expressway (SR-125) Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 The international border with Mexico was also discussed with informa-tion provided on the two existing ports of entry at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa the future port of entry proposed east of the current Otay Mesa crossing and the Otay Mesa ndash Mesa de Otay Strategic Plan currently under development with participants from both sides of the border Maritime projects being coordinated by the Port of San Diego were highlighted and energy issues impacting South County were also discussed Finally the possibility of a new Chargers stadium in National City or Chula Vista was briefly raised
EVALUATIONS
Many participants commented that the workshop was very informational and provided a nice overview of the larger regional perspective in relation to local planning One participant stated the workshop offered a ldquogreat opportunity to define how several agencies are woven into the fabric of lsquolocal planningrsquordquo and another suggested scheduling a workshop like this twice a year to provide relevant information on current planning projects within the region Other suggestions were to increase the allotted time for the breakout sessions to provide more time for questions and answers as well as spend more time discussing specific planning and transportation projects and programs Overall the first Planning Commissionerrsquos Workshop ldquoThe ABCrsquos of Regional Planning in San Diegordquo was well attended and generated valuable discussion on the relationship between regional plans and programs and local planning efforts
YOUR CHANCE TO WEIGH IN
Based on the evaluation forms APA is considering teaming up with SANDAG Caltrans and the League of California Cities to conduct this workshop again next year What do YOU think If you attended let us know If you didnrsquot attend but would be interested in a future workshop focused on the relationship between regional and local planning let us know Your feedback is important to us Please send your e-mails to Lschultenctdorg
Continued From Page 3
5
PointCounter Point for Form-Based Code for Bird RockTenets of Form-Based Code From Mike Stepner and Howard Blackson
That infill developments with a mix of uses and of a smaller scale should be the preferred pattern of development and to discourage projects
specializing in single uses or repetitive architecture on several parcelsThat buildings and landscaping should contribute to the physical definition of thoroughfares as public spacesThat development should adequately accommodate for automobiles while respecting the pedestrian and the spatial forms of public spacesForm-Based Code for Bird Rock
Blog From Pat Flannery ndash ldquoBird Rock will look like a 19th century English coal-mining townrdquo 032007
They will loudly condemn the old restrictive ldquoEuclidianrdquo concept of sepa-rating land uses and banish such thinking to the lower reaches of plan-
ning hell They will crown their god ldquoFormrdquo the Adonis of planning They will proclaim a new age right here in beautiful downtown Bird Rock aka Baja La Jolla httpwwwblogofsandiegocom
Rose Canyon Follow-upSan Diego CityBeat article
City Council Rescinds Decision To Proceed With Regents Road Bridge
Friends of Rose Canyonrsquos lawsuit forces City Council to do an about-face City Council votes to do a brand new EIR Major Victory for
Friends of Rose Canyon City capitulates before the case is heard in courtRose Canyonrsquos Great Escape
Canyonlands Follow-up - Saving the Canyonby Dave Good
By the late 1990s the Canyon at 32nd Street was on the verge of environ-mental blight It took the threat of development however to unite neigh-bors to save the once-pristine habitathttpwwwsandiegomagazinecommediaSan-Diego-MagazineApril-200732nd-Street-Canyon-Clean-Up
Road TripRoute 50 Trip BackgroundwwwRte50com
Between the Memorial Day weekend amp July 10th Irsquoll be reporting for the Planning Commissioners Journal on planning and land-use related
issues facing communities along US Route 50 from coast-to-coast Irsquoll be posting updates here most every day -- text audio and visual images I hope yoursquoll join in this learning experience by following our web blog You can sign up for our feed or to be alerted when I post new reports (see the left panel) For more background on this trip and how you can help support us see my first postWayne Senville Editor Planning Commissioners Journal
Regional Planning Topics
Continued on Page 6
Rancho Guejito Threatened with Subdivision for New Urban DevelopmentBy Bruce Coons
Rancho Guejito is the best last most important most beautiful and most intact Mexican land grant It is the least spoiled portion of
coastal California from the Mexican border to above Santa Barbarahttpsohosandiegoorgreflections2007-1guejito_coverhtm
Rancho Guejito ndash A Call for ProtectionLetter to Elected Officials
The undersigned organizations enthusiastically endorse the protection of the 21000-acre Rancho Guejito located east of Valley Center It
is one of the most important properties in California Herersquos why
The ranch contains the best preserved Mexican land grant in Southern California that is still in private ownership and remains undeveloped Its Old California history and cattle ranch ndash in their original setting and con-text ndash provide an unparalleled opportunity for education and interpreta-tion Here our children can understand their past
Culturally important as an ancestral area to the Kumeyaay and Luiseno ndash the Native Americans of the area ndash it is rich in archeological history and considered a sacred site
With clean water from pristine watersheds the large expanses of open space are irreplaceable habitat for San Diegorsquos wildlife Golden eagles and mountain lions find ldquoroom to roamrdquo The ranch is a critical ecologi-cal link between coastal habitats and the adjoining higher elevation Cleveland National Forest
Twenty different plant communities including one of the last strongholds of the rare Engelmann oak support high biological diversity including endangered species and 16 types of raptors The mosaic of oak wood-lands expansive grasslands vernal pools and riparian areas is unparal-leled in the county Opportunities for scientific study abound
Once planned for acquisition as a state park preservation could provide unique recreational opportunities for urban populations and maintain the quality of life that attracts high-wage businesses to San Diego and keeps our economy strong
The beauty of Rancho Guejito is legendary ndash a place where time has stood still Its sun-drenched hills endless seas of grass sparkling creeks forests of great oaks granite outcrops and immense solitude must continue to inspire us
Large scale development on Rancho Guejito as recently proposed would do irreparable harm to San Diegorsquos historic cultural and envi-ronmental identity Such ldquoleapfrogrdquo development would also burden the taxpayer with costly infrastructure extension and service provision We ask for your help in averting this outcome
Let us pursue ldquowin-winrdquo solutions that reward the excellent stewardship by past owners and the current owner the Coates family Letrsquos invest in
6
our future by preserving its past Using funds now available from local state and federal sources an unprecedented legacy can be created for the family for our elected leaders and for the people of California Please support the protection of this natural and historic treasure
We look forward to working with you
SincerelyClare Billet Managing Director San Diego Conservation Resources NetworkJames Birkelund Attorney Natural Resources Defense Council Janet Cobb President California Oak FoundationBruce Coons Executive Director Save Our Heritage OrganisationTom Golich President San Dieguito River Valley ConservancyDave Grubb Chair North County Coastal Group Sierra ClubRichard W Halsey Director California Chaparral InstituteDavid Hogan Conservation Manager Center for Biological DiversityRick Landavazo Chair The Friends of Hellhole Canyon Open Space PreserveMargaret McCown Liles President Escondido Chamber of CitizensCarolyn Martus President San Diego Chapter California Native Plant SocietyAndy Mauro Conservation Chair Buena Vista Audubon SocietyDiane Nygaard President Preserve CalaveraJames A Peugh Conservation Committee Chair San Diego Audubon SocietyJune Rady President The Escondido Creek ConservancyDan Silver Executive Director Endangered Habitats LeagueDavid Toler Council Member San Pasqual Band of Juanentildeo Mission Indians of CaliforniaWallace Tucker Chair Fallbrook Land ConservancyMichael D White PhD San Diego Director Conservation Biology InstituteFred Woods President Friends of Daley RanchJoe Zechman Chair San Diego Chapter Sierra Club
Leave No Child Inside
The growing movement to reconnect children and natureby Richard Louv
httpwwwsdearthtimescomet0407et0407s5html
The San Diego River Valley
From the earliest days the San Diego River has been critical to our community For thousands of years this has been true Today the
River is now considered a polluted waterway by the EPA You can be part of the effort to clean up our river and restore its health You can also be part of the incredible effort underway to establish a bright future for our
Continued from Page 5 river as we celebrate it with a river-long park system The San Diego River Park will stretch 52 miles from the mountains to the oceanYou are vital to the success of these effortsWonrsquot you join us httpwwwsandiegoriverorg
What About GailThe Los Angeles Times drew up an interesting profile of Gail Goldberg who spearheads planning for our neighbor to the north Goldberg is San Diegorsquos former planning director According to the article Goldberg has become one of the most recognized faces around the big cityrsquos government since moving there in late 2005
In the 15 months since she was hired away from San Diego by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Goldbergrsquos public profile has steadily grown owing to hundreds of appearances before community groups who can spot her just as quickly as their photogenic mayor and tough-talking police chief
At once plain-spoken funny motherly charismatic and diplomatic Goldberg at 63 finds herself in a position to determine whether a city tolerant of sprawl traffic and cheap architecture can grow elegantly She too represents the mayorrsquos radical new take on Los Angeles Both are determined to rebuild some of the cityrsquos old neighborhoods and make them taller denser and linked to mass transit
MSCP Follow upOnce a National Model Habitat Plan Faces Uncertain Futurehttpwwwvoiceofsandiegoorgarticles20070416news02mscp041607txtVoice of San DiegoBy Rob Davis Voice Staff Writer ltmailtorobdavisvoiceofsandiegoorggt Monday April 16 2007 | A decade ago environmentalists developers and politicians celebrated their agreement on a blueprint for the future develop-ment and conservation of land in the city of San DiegoThe Multiple Species Conservation Program as it is called outlined a regional approach to habitat planning Instead of the piecemeal project-by-project development of the past the plan was designed to preserve the most biologically significant lands remaining in San DiegoThe idea was almost unprecedented That developers environmentalists and politicians agreed on a plan to protect 85 species was celebrated across the nation The New York Timesrsquo editorial page said the decision ldquomeans a virtual Noahrsquos Ark of endangered plant and animal life will now have a fighting chance to survive the relentless development that has dis-figured so much of Southern CaliforniardquoBut a year after its 1997 approval 14 environmental groups sued the city and US Fish and Wildlife Service over the plan The suit came after one of the first development projects approved using the blueprint paved over dozens of small wetlands habitats known as vernal pools The Cousins Marketcenter project in Mira Mesa left behind just one pool of 67 the habi-tat plan called for them to be avoided to the maximum extent practicalIn a court decision released late last year a judge scolded the officials who approved that project US District Court Judge Rudi Brewster said the
Continued on Page 7
7
conservation blueprint may hasten the extinction of the very species it is supposed to protect The decision was a serious blow to a plan that was once considered a national modelThe habitat conservation plan enabled the city of San Diego to issue permits to developers allowing them kill some of the 85 protected species which range from the prolific Canada goose to the threatened California gnatcatcher
Continued from Page 6
AnnouncementsSDAPA Academic Liason Mentor Program - Did you know that SDAPA has a Mentor Program that matches planning students with planning professionals Students and faculty members are encouraged to utilize our SDAPA Board liaison to communicate and network between the PlanningGeographyUrban Studies Departments of the San Diego region universities and the professional planning community The liaison is also tasked with assisting student representatives in organizing interested students in becoming more involved in the planning community prior to commencement For more information please contact Kevin Grant at kgrantpacificmunicipalcom or 858-342-8808
Mail-List - Receive the latest SDAPA and news and job announcements by subscribing to our e-mail list No charge Subscribe
Jobs Available - Check here for the latest San Diego Planning jobs Go to jobs
SDAPA Planning Library - Download PowerPoint presentations and workshop materials from SDAPA sponsored workshops and luncheons Download Presentations
Request for Proposals - SDAPA is now accepting RFP documents in downloadable PDF format for posting on our jobs announcements page Go to jobs page
Announcement Requests - Please submit announcement requests by e-mail to gregkprojectdesigncom Announcements should be rele-vant to the San Diego planning community Please see sample announce-ment request Download sample announcement request
Cal State Fullerton Offers Urban Planning Certificate
Advance your career with a Certificate in Urban Planning from Cal State Fullerton Extension This program is designed for current planners
as well as those new to the field and classes begin on June 7 at 630 pm Enrollment opens on April 2 2007 at wwwcsufextensionorgclassescertificate For more information contact Mimi Lawson mlawsonfullertonedu or 7142783313
Environmental Planning Seminars at theUniversity of California Irvine Extension
Cultural Resources and Land Development in California Wednesday April 25 9am-430pm Room 212 UCI Learning Center 200 S
Manchester Orange $225 including materialsIntroduction to NEPA Wednesday May 23 9am-430pm Room 210 UCI Learning Center 200 S Manchester Orange $225 including materi-alsTo enroll wwwextensionuciedu or 949-824-5414For more information 949-824-6538 or japurewauciedu
MW Steele Reorganizes Leadership Staff Positions Itself for Future
MW Steele a prominent architecture and planning firm in San Diego has undergone an internal reorganization to better serve cli-
ents and adapt to a changing business atmosphere in San DiegoldquoMW Steele is evolving to keep pace with the dynamic marketplace spurred by San Diegorsquos phenomenal growth over the past decaderdquo said Mark Steele the companyrsquos president ldquoA new generation of leaders within the firm has stepped up to help MW Steele grow and adaptrdquoThe firm is moving from a single-leader business model to a team approach spreading leadership responsibility among several new princi-pals all of whom have been with the firm for a significant period of timeldquoEach member of this team has contributed to the growth and success of MW Steele over the yearsrdquo Steele said ldquoThis evolution will allow MW Steele to continue to offer its clients innovative and creative thoughts ideas and designs that have made the firm so successfulrdquoMW Steele was formed in the early 1980s as a small firm focusing on small architecture and planning projects Since then it has evolved with more and diverse urban design architecture and policy planning efforts ldquoThis diversification must continue if the firm is to thrive in todayrsquos com-plex and challenging building environmentrdquo said Jennifer Ayala Director of ProjectsThe Cityrsquos urban neighborhoods have become more richly defined over the years offering new avenues and vistas for creative design and plan-ning MW Steele has always been forward-thinking when it comes to urban design It has become uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in larger community planning projects and efforts and compete on a state-wide level Although the company is reorganizing its core values and philosophies will remain the sameldquoThe companyrsquos new principals share the same ideals that created and sustained the firm from its inception nearly a quarter-century agordquo Steele said Steele will continue to serve in a leadership capacity for the fore-seeable future however ownership of the firm will gradually shift to the new principals over time
8
Accomplished Environmental Planning Professional Bobbi Herdes Joins San Diego Environmental Consulting Firm
Bobbi Herdes a skilled and experienced professional recently joined RECON Environmental Inc in San Diego Ms Herdes brings a
breath and depth of knowledge and ability as well as an exemplary record of achievements In her new position as Senior Project Manager at RECON Ms Herdes manages teams of technical experts in preparation of environmental documents (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] and National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]) for an array of large-scale projects throughout southern California Ms Herdes directs a full range of com-plex projects including roadways infrastructure urban redevelopment and mixed-use commercial industrial and residential developmentsMs Herdesrsquo professional career includes over 20 years of senior level planning and environmental consulting experience in both private and public organizations Serving as senior project manager and environmen-tal analyst for three major environmental companies Ms Herdes has directed a multitude of environmental and planning projects She also served as senior environmental planner with the City of San DiegoPrior to joining RECON Ms Herdes was employed at a local consulting firm As business manager she was responsible for all of the companyrsquos financial matters including reporting planning and budgeting Under Ms Herdesrsquo expert leadership the organization doubled in size and experi-enced a tremendous increase in revenue Ms Herdes was honored as a 2004 recipient of the prestigious YMCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award the largest and most promi-nent event in San Diego County recognizing the achievements of women business executives Ms Herdes holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of science in botany
APA Membership
Becoming an American Planning Association member is easy The APA website httpwwwplanningorg offers online mem-
bership services To sign up go to httpwwwplanningorgjoinapa You may also reactivate your membership change your contact information and join up for additional services on the national web-siteAs a Planner there are many benefits by becoming involved in the American Planning Association (APA) Whether you are interested in staying on top of current industry events taking advantage of network opportunities discussing planning issues or just looking for a new job APA is there to help facilitate it As a professional organization APA brings together people who share an interest in working towards better-planned communities APA aims to improve your career by providing opportunities to become more engaged in your profession As a national professional organiza-tion APA is highly recognized by private public and academic entities as being on the forefront of the planning profession
APA creates an opportunity to expand your career As a memberbull Use APA resources to stay up to date on policy issuesbull You are encouraged to become AICP certified American Institute
of Certified Planners (AICP) is a designation for those who choose to take their profession one step further AICP allows you to become a credible planner and show those around you that you are trained as a certified planner In addition our local San Diego APA section offers professional development workshops and luncheons to keep professionals up to date on local planning issues
bull Get recognized Annual conferences and award ceremonies for national state and
local sections offer a way for projects and hard work to be recognized by your professional peers and exchange ideas
To keep members up-to-date on national trends local news and innovative ideas APA provides a number of publications National state and special interest divisions produce monthly periodicals and the San Diego local sec-tion issues a regular newsletter Local workshops luncheons and get-togethers provide an edge for net-working and meeting fellow planners The San Diego APA section calendar can be found on our website httpwwwsdapaorg and each month we offers a variety functions outings and social events to take part in
For students becoming a member of APA is an incredible tool in learning to navigate the professional world of planning The organization offers students discounted rates for membership functions and events including the state and national conferences held once a year To increase the student capabilities the San Diego APA sec-tion encourages involvement from local city planning and urban studies academic programs and has recently offered a scholarship award for local studentsThe most helpful resource and simplest way to stay involved with whatrsquos with happening locally and around the world is to sign up for email notices on the APA websites (National wwwplanningorg and locally wwwsdapaorg ) To become a member visit APArsquos websitehttpwwwplanningorgjoinapa
UC San Diego Extension Urban Planning amp Development
Reach your career goals with practical education through UC San Diego Extension Learn the fundamentals that define planning in both
California and the San Diego region and discover the factors that impact development ndash like the environment and preservation Learn how to plan for community needs and protect one of the worldrsquos most enviable environ-ments Study the theory methods and practice of financing private and public development projects Get practice in a range of communication techniques designed to help you advance your projects Learn how to achieve your planning objectives
For more information on Urban Planning amp Development courses please contact Betsy Stiles at estilesucsdedu or (858) 882-8020 or visit httpextensionucsdedubusiness
9
httpwwwurscorpcom
httpwwwdwgconsultingorgpages1indexhtm
httpwwwgreystoneus
httplightfootpgcom
httpwwwdyettandbhatiacom
httpwwweconrescom
httpwwwhofmanplanningcom
httpwwwjonesandstokescom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom
5
PointCounter Point for Form-Based Code for Bird RockTenets of Form-Based Code From Mike Stepner and Howard Blackson
That infill developments with a mix of uses and of a smaller scale should be the preferred pattern of development and to discourage projects
specializing in single uses or repetitive architecture on several parcelsThat buildings and landscaping should contribute to the physical definition of thoroughfares as public spacesThat development should adequately accommodate for automobiles while respecting the pedestrian and the spatial forms of public spacesForm-Based Code for Bird Rock
Blog From Pat Flannery ndash ldquoBird Rock will look like a 19th century English coal-mining townrdquo 032007
They will loudly condemn the old restrictive ldquoEuclidianrdquo concept of sepa-rating land uses and banish such thinking to the lower reaches of plan-
ning hell They will crown their god ldquoFormrdquo the Adonis of planning They will proclaim a new age right here in beautiful downtown Bird Rock aka Baja La Jolla httpwwwblogofsandiegocom
Rose Canyon Follow-upSan Diego CityBeat article
City Council Rescinds Decision To Proceed With Regents Road Bridge
Friends of Rose Canyonrsquos lawsuit forces City Council to do an about-face City Council votes to do a brand new EIR Major Victory for
Friends of Rose Canyon City capitulates before the case is heard in courtRose Canyonrsquos Great Escape
Canyonlands Follow-up - Saving the Canyonby Dave Good
By the late 1990s the Canyon at 32nd Street was on the verge of environ-mental blight It took the threat of development however to unite neigh-bors to save the once-pristine habitathttpwwwsandiegomagazinecommediaSan-Diego-MagazineApril-200732nd-Street-Canyon-Clean-Up
Road TripRoute 50 Trip BackgroundwwwRte50com
Between the Memorial Day weekend amp July 10th Irsquoll be reporting for the Planning Commissioners Journal on planning and land-use related
issues facing communities along US Route 50 from coast-to-coast Irsquoll be posting updates here most every day -- text audio and visual images I hope yoursquoll join in this learning experience by following our web blog You can sign up for our feed or to be alerted when I post new reports (see the left panel) For more background on this trip and how you can help support us see my first postWayne Senville Editor Planning Commissioners Journal
Regional Planning Topics
Continued on Page 6
Rancho Guejito Threatened with Subdivision for New Urban DevelopmentBy Bruce Coons
Rancho Guejito is the best last most important most beautiful and most intact Mexican land grant It is the least spoiled portion of
coastal California from the Mexican border to above Santa Barbarahttpsohosandiegoorgreflections2007-1guejito_coverhtm
Rancho Guejito ndash A Call for ProtectionLetter to Elected Officials
The undersigned organizations enthusiastically endorse the protection of the 21000-acre Rancho Guejito located east of Valley Center It
is one of the most important properties in California Herersquos why
The ranch contains the best preserved Mexican land grant in Southern California that is still in private ownership and remains undeveloped Its Old California history and cattle ranch ndash in their original setting and con-text ndash provide an unparalleled opportunity for education and interpreta-tion Here our children can understand their past
Culturally important as an ancestral area to the Kumeyaay and Luiseno ndash the Native Americans of the area ndash it is rich in archeological history and considered a sacred site
With clean water from pristine watersheds the large expanses of open space are irreplaceable habitat for San Diegorsquos wildlife Golden eagles and mountain lions find ldquoroom to roamrdquo The ranch is a critical ecologi-cal link between coastal habitats and the adjoining higher elevation Cleveland National Forest
Twenty different plant communities including one of the last strongholds of the rare Engelmann oak support high biological diversity including endangered species and 16 types of raptors The mosaic of oak wood-lands expansive grasslands vernal pools and riparian areas is unparal-leled in the county Opportunities for scientific study abound
Once planned for acquisition as a state park preservation could provide unique recreational opportunities for urban populations and maintain the quality of life that attracts high-wage businesses to San Diego and keeps our economy strong
The beauty of Rancho Guejito is legendary ndash a place where time has stood still Its sun-drenched hills endless seas of grass sparkling creeks forests of great oaks granite outcrops and immense solitude must continue to inspire us
Large scale development on Rancho Guejito as recently proposed would do irreparable harm to San Diegorsquos historic cultural and envi-ronmental identity Such ldquoleapfrogrdquo development would also burden the taxpayer with costly infrastructure extension and service provision We ask for your help in averting this outcome
Let us pursue ldquowin-winrdquo solutions that reward the excellent stewardship by past owners and the current owner the Coates family Letrsquos invest in
6
our future by preserving its past Using funds now available from local state and federal sources an unprecedented legacy can be created for the family for our elected leaders and for the people of California Please support the protection of this natural and historic treasure
We look forward to working with you
SincerelyClare Billet Managing Director San Diego Conservation Resources NetworkJames Birkelund Attorney Natural Resources Defense Council Janet Cobb President California Oak FoundationBruce Coons Executive Director Save Our Heritage OrganisationTom Golich President San Dieguito River Valley ConservancyDave Grubb Chair North County Coastal Group Sierra ClubRichard W Halsey Director California Chaparral InstituteDavid Hogan Conservation Manager Center for Biological DiversityRick Landavazo Chair The Friends of Hellhole Canyon Open Space PreserveMargaret McCown Liles President Escondido Chamber of CitizensCarolyn Martus President San Diego Chapter California Native Plant SocietyAndy Mauro Conservation Chair Buena Vista Audubon SocietyDiane Nygaard President Preserve CalaveraJames A Peugh Conservation Committee Chair San Diego Audubon SocietyJune Rady President The Escondido Creek ConservancyDan Silver Executive Director Endangered Habitats LeagueDavid Toler Council Member San Pasqual Band of Juanentildeo Mission Indians of CaliforniaWallace Tucker Chair Fallbrook Land ConservancyMichael D White PhD San Diego Director Conservation Biology InstituteFred Woods President Friends of Daley RanchJoe Zechman Chair San Diego Chapter Sierra Club
Leave No Child Inside
The growing movement to reconnect children and natureby Richard Louv
httpwwwsdearthtimescomet0407et0407s5html
The San Diego River Valley
From the earliest days the San Diego River has been critical to our community For thousands of years this has been true Today the
River is now considered a polluted waterway by the EPA You can be part of the effort to clean up our river and restore its health You can also be part of the incredible effort underway to establish a bright future for our
Continued from Page 5 river as we celebrate it with a river-long park system The San Diego River Park will stretch 52 miles from the mountains to the oceanYou are vital to the success of these effortsWonrsquot you join us httpwwwsandiegoriverorg
What About GailThe Los Angeles Times drew up an interesting profile of Gail Goldberg who spearheads planning for our neighbor to the north Goldberg is San Diegorsquos former planning director According to the article Goldberg has become one of the most recognized faces around the big cityrsquos government since moving there in late 2005
In the 15 months since she was hired away from San Diego by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Goldbergrsquos public profile has steadily grown owing to hundreds of appearances before community groups who can spot her just as quickly as their photogenic mayor and tough-talking police chief
At once plain-spoken funny motherly charismatic and diplomatic Goldberg at 63 finds herself in a position to determine whether a city tolerant of sprawl traffic and cheap architecture can grow elegantly She too represents the mayorrsquos radical new take on Los Angeles Both are determined to rebuild some of the cityrsquos old neighborhoods and make them taller denser and linked to mass transit
MSCP Follow upOnce a National Model Habitat Plan Faces Uncertain Futurehttpwwwvoiceofsandiegoorgarticles20070416news02mscp041607txtVoice of San DiegoBy Rob Davis Voice Staff Writer ltmailtorobdavisvoiceofsandiegoorggt Monday April 16 2007 | A decade ago environmentalists developers and politicians celebrated their agreement on a blueprint for the future develop-ment and conservation of land in the city of San DiegoThe Multiple Species Conservation Program as it is called outlined a regional approach to habitat planning Instead of the piecemeal project-by-project development of the past the plan was designed to preserve the most biologically significant lands remaining in San DiegoThe idea was almost unprecedented That developers environmentalists and politicians agreed on a plan to protect 85 species was celebrated across the nation The New York Timesrsquo editorial page said the decision ldquomeans a virtual Noahrsquos Ark of endangered plant and animal life will now have a fighting chance to survive the relentless development that has dis-figured so much of Southern CaliforniardquoBut a year after its 1997 approval 14 environmental groups sued the city and US Fish and Wildlife Service over the plan The suit came after one of the first development projects approved using the blueprint paved over dozens of small wetlands habitats known as vernal pools The Cousins Marketcenter project in Mira Mesa left behind just one pool of 67 the habi-tat plan called for them to be avoided to the maximum extent practicalIn a court decision released late last year a judge scolded the officials who approved that project US District Court Judge Rudi Brewster said the
Continued on Page 7
7
conservation blueprint may hasten the extinction of the very species it is supposed to protect The decision was a serious blow to a plan that was once considered a national modelThe habitat conservation plan enabled the city of San Diego to issue permits to developers allowing them kill some of the 85 protected species which range from the prolific Canada goose to the threatened California gnatcatcher
Continued from Page 6
AnnouncementsSDAPA Academic Liason Mentor Program - Did you know that SDAPA has a Mentor Program that matches planning students with planning professionals Students and faculty members are encouraged to utilize our SDAPA Board liaison to communicate and network between the PlanningGeographyUrban Studies Departments of the San Diego region universities and the professional planning community The liaison is also tasked with assisting student representatives in organizing interested students in becoming more involved in the planning community prior to commencement For more information please contact Kevin Grant at kgrantpacificmunicipalcom or 858-342-8808
Mail-List - Receive the latest SDAPA and news and job announcements by subscribing to our e-mail list No charge Subscribe
Jobs Available - Check here for the latest San Diego Planning jobs Go to jobs
SDAPA Planning Library - Download PowerPoint presentations and workshop materials from SDAPA sponsored workshops and luncheons Download Presentations
Request for Proposals - SDAPA is now accepting RFP documents in downloadable PDF format for posting on our jobs announcements page Go to jobs page
Announcement Requests - Please submit announcement requests by e-mail to gregkprojectdesigncom Announcements should be rele-vant to the San Diego planning community Please see sample announce-ment request Download sample announcement request
Cal State Fullerton Offers Urban Planning Certificate
Advance your career with a Certificate in Urban Planning from Cal State Fullerton Extension This program is designed for current planners
as well as those new to the field and classes begin on June 7 at 630 pm Enrollment opens on April 2 2007 at wwwcsufextensionorgclassescertificate For more information contact Mimi Lawson mlawsonfullertonedu or 7142783313
Environmental Planning Seminars at theUniversity of California Irvine Extension
Cultural Resources and Land Development in California Wednesday April 25 9am-430pm Room 212 UCI Learning Center 200 S
Manchester Orange $225 including materialsIntroduction to NEPA Wednesday May 23 9am-430pm Room 210 UCI Learning Center 200 S Manchester Orange $225 including materi-alsTo enroll wwwextensionuciedu or 949-824-5414For more information 949-824-6538 or japurewauciedu
MW Steele Reorganizes Leadership Staff Positions Itself for Future
MW Steele a prominent architecture and planning firm in San Diego has undergone an internal reorganization to better serve cli-
ents and adapt to a changing business atmosphere in San DiegoldquoMW Steele is evolving to keep pace with the dynamic marketplace spurred by San Diegorsquos phenomenal growth over the past decaderdquo said Mark Steele the companyrsquos president ldquoA new generation of leaders within the firm has stepped up to help MW Steele grow and adaptrdquoThe firm is moving from a single-leader business model to a team approach spreading leadership responsibility among several new princi-pals all of whom have been with the firm for a significant period of timeldquoEach member of this team has contributed to the growth and success of MW Steele over the yearsrdquo Steele said ldquoThis evolution will allow MW Steele to continue to offer its clients innovative and creative thoughts ideas and designs that have made the firm so successfulrdquoMW Steele was formed in the early 1980s as a small firm focusing on small architecture and planning projects Since then it has evolved with more and diverse urban design architecture and policy planning efforts ldquoThis diversification must continue if the firm is to thrive in todayrsquos com-plex and challenging building environmentrdquo said Jennifer Ayala Director of ProjectsThe Cityrsquos urban neighborhoods have become more richly defined over the years offering new avenues and vistas for creative design and plan-ning MW Steele has always been forward-thinking when it comes to urban design It has become uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in larger community planning projects and efforts and compete on a state-wide level Although the company is reorganizing its core values and philosophies will remain the sameldquoThe companyrsquos new principals share the same ideals that created and sustained the firm from its inception nearly a quarter-century agordquo Steele said Steele will continue to serve in a leadership capacity for the fore-seeable future however ownership of the firm will gradually shift to the new principals over time
8
Accomplished Environmental Planning Professional Bobbi Herdes Joins San Diego Environmental Consulting Firm
Bobbi Herdes a skilled and experienced professional recently joined RECON Environmental Inc in San Diego Ms Herdes brings a
breath and depth of knowledge and ability as well as an exemplary record of achievements In her new position as Senior Project Manager at RECON Ms Herdes manages teams of technical experts in preparation of environmental documents (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] and National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]) for an array of large-scale projects throughout southern California Ms Herdes directs a full range of com-plex projects including roadways infrastructure urban redevelopment and mixed-use commercial industrial and residential developmentsMs Herdesrsquo professional career includes over 20 years of senior level planning and environmental consulting experience in both private and public organizations Serving as senior project manager and environmen-tal analyst for three major environmental companies Ms Herdes has directed a multitude of environmental and planning projects She also served as senior environmental planner with the City of San DiegoPrior to joining RECON Ms Herdes was employed at a local consulting firm As business manager she was responsible for all of the companyrsquos financial matters including reporting planning and budgeting Under Ms Herdesrsquo expert leadership the organization doubled in size and experi-enced a tremendous increase in revenue Ms Herdes was honored as a 2004 recipient of the prestigious YMCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award the largest and most promi-nent event in San Diego County recognizing the achievements of women business executives Ms Herdes holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of science in botany
APA Membership
Becoming an American Planning Association member is easy The APA website httpwwwplanningorg offers online mem-
bership services To sign up go to httpwwwplanningorgjoinapa You may also reactivate your membership change your contact information and join up for additional services on the national web-siteAs a Planner there are many benefits by becoming involved in the American Planning Association (APA) Whether you are interested in staying on top of current industry events taking advantage of network opportunities discussing planning issues or just looking for a new job APA is there to help facilitate it As a professional organization APA brings together people who share an interest in working towards better-planned communities APA aims to improve your career by providing opportunities to become more engaged in your profession As a national professional organiza-tion APA is highly recognized by private public and academic entities as being on the forefront of the planning profession
APA creates an opportunity to expand your career As a memberbull Use APA resources to stay up to date on policy issuesbull You are encouraged to become AICP certified American Institute
of Certified Planners (AICP) is a designation for those who choose to take their profession one step further AICP allows you to become a credible planner and show those around you that you are trained as a certified planner In addition our local San Diego APA section offers professional development workshops and luncheons to keep professionals up to date on local planning issues
bull Get recognized Annual conferences and award ceremonies for national state and
local sections offer a way for projects and hard work to be recognized by your professional peers and exchange ideas
To keep members up-to-date on national trends local news and innovative ideas APA provides a number of publications National state and special interest divisions produce monthly periodicals and the San Diego local sec-tion issues a regular newsletter Local workshops luncheons and get-togethers provide an edge for net-working and meeting fellow planners The San Diego APA section calendar can be found on our website httpwwwsdapaorg and each month we offers a variety functions outings and social events to take part in
For students becoming a member of APA is an incredible tool in learning to navigate the professional world of planning The organization offers students discounted rates for membership functions and events including the state and national conferences held once a year To increase the student capabilities the San Diego APA sec-tion encourages involvement from local city planning and urban studies academic programs and has recently offered a scholarship award for local studentsThe most helpful resource and simplest way to stay involved with whatrsquos with happening locally and around the world is to sign up for email notices on the APA websites (National wwwplanningorg and locally wwwsdapaorg ) To become a member visit APArsquos websitehttpwwwplanningorgjoinapa
UC San Diego Extension Urban Planning amp Development
Reach your career goals with practical education through UC San Diego Extension Learn the fundamentals that define planning in both
California and the San Diego region and discover the factors that impact development ndash like the environment and preservation Learn how to plan for community needs and protect one of the worldrsquos most enviable environ-ments Study the theory methods and practice of financing private and public development projects Get practice in a range of communication techniques designed to help you advance your projects Learn how to achieve your planning objectives
For more information on Urban Planning amp Development courses please contact Betsy Stiles at estilesucsdedu or (858) 882-8020 or visit httpextensionucsdedubusiness
9
httpwwwurscorpcom
httpwwwdwgconsultingorgpages1indexhtm
httpwwwgreystoneus
httplightfootpgcom
httpwwwdyettandbhatiacom
httpwwweconrescom
httpwwwhofmanplanningcom
httpwwwjonesandstokescom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom
6
our future by preserving its past Using funds now available from local state and federal sources an unprecedented legacy can be created for the family for our elected leaders and for the people of California Please support the protection of this natural and historic treasure
We look forward to working with you
SincerelyClare Billet Managing Director San Diego Conservation Resources NetworkJames Birkelund Attorney Natural Resources Defense Council Janet Cobb President California Oak FoundationBruce Coons Executive Director Save Our Heritage OrganisationTom Golich President San Dieguito River Valley ConservancyDave Grubb Chair North County Coastal Group Sierra ClubRichard W Halsey Director California Chaparral InstituteDavid Hogan Conservation Manager Center for Biological DiversityRick Landavazo Chair The Friends of Hellhole Canyon Open Space PreserveMargaret McCown Liles President Escondido Chamber of CitizensCarolyn Martus President San Diego Chapter California Native Plant SocietyAndy Mauro Conservation Chair Buena Vista Audubon SocietyDiane Nygaard President Preserve CalaveraJames A Peugh Conservation Committee Chair San Diego Audubon SocietyJune Rady President The Escondido Creek ConservancyDan Silver Executive Director Endangered Habitats LeagueDavid Toler Council Member San Pasqual Band of Juanentildeo Mission Indians of CaliforniaWallace Tucker Chair Fallbrook Land ConservancyMichael D White PhD San Diego Director Conservation Biology InstituteFred Woods President Friends of Daley RanchJoe Zechman Chair San Diego Chapter Sierra Club
Leave No Child Inside
The growing movement to reconnect children and natureby Richard Louv
httpwwwsdearthtimescomet0407et0407s5html
The San Diego River Valley
From the earliest days the San Diego River has been critical to our community For thousands of years this has been true Today the
River is now considered a polluted waterway by the EPA You can be part of the effort to clean up our river and restore its health You can also be part of the incredible effort underway to establish a bright future for our
Continued from Page 5 river as we celebrate it with a river-long park system The San Diego River Park will stretch 52 miles from the mountains to the oceanYou are vital to the success of these effortsWonrsquot you join us httpwwwsandiegoriverorg
What About GailThe Los Angeles Times drew up an interesting profile of Gail Goldberg who spearheads planning for our neighbor to the north Goldberg is San Diegorsquos former planning director According to the article Goldberg has become one of the most recognized faces around the big cityrsquos government since moving there in late 2005
In the 15 months since she was hired away from San Diego by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Goldbergrsquos public profile has steadily grown owing to hundreds of appearances before community groups who can spot her just as quickly as their photogenic mayor and tough-talking police chief
At once plain-spoken funny motherly charismatic and diplomatic Goldberg at 63 finds herself in a position to determine whether a city tolerant of sprawl traffic and cheap architecture can grow elegantly She too represents the mayorrsquos radical new take on Los Angeles Both are determined to rebuild some of the cityrsquos old neighborhoods and make them taller denser and linked to mass transit
MSCP Follow upOnce a National Model Habitat Plan Faces Uncertain Futurehttpwwwvoiceofsandiegoorgarticles20070416news02mscp041607txtVoice of San DiegoBy Rob Davis Voice Staff Writer ltmailtorobdavisvoiceofsandiegoorggt Monday April 16 2007 | A decade ago environmentalists developers and politicians celebrated their agreement on a blueprint for the future develop-ment and conservation of land in the city of San DiegoThe Multiple Species Conservation Program as it is called outlined a regional approach to habitat planning Instead of the piecemeal project-by-project development of the past the plan was designed to preserve the most biologically significant lands remaining in San DiegoThe idea was almost unprecedented That developers environmentalists and politicians agreed on a plan to protect 85 species was celebrated across the nation The New York Timesrsquo editorial page said the decision ldquomeans a virtual Noahrsquos Ark of endangered plant and animal life will now have a fighting chance to survive the relentless development that has dis-figured so much of Southern CaliforniardquoBut a year after its 1997 approval 14 environmental groups sued the city and US Fish and Wildlife Service over the plan The suit came after one of the first development projects approved using the blueprint paved over dozens of small wetlands habitats known as vernal pools The Cousins Marketcenter project in Mira Mesa left behind just one pool of 67 the habi-tat plan called for them to be avoided to the maximum extent practicalIn a court decision released late last year a judge scolded the officials who approved that project US District Court Judge Rudi Brewster said the
Continued on Page 7
7
conservation blueprint may hasten the extinction of the very species it is supposed to protect The decision was a serious blow to a plan that was once considered a national modelThe habitat conservation plan enabled the city of San Diego to issue permits to developers allowing them kill some of the 85 protected species which range from the prolific Canada goose to the threatened California gnatcatcher
Continued from Page 6
AnnouncementsSDAPA Academic Liason Mentor Program - Did you know that SDAPA has a Mentor Program that matches planning students with planning professionals Students and faculty members are encouraged to utilize our SDAPA Board liaison to communicate and network between the PlanningGeographyUrban Studies Departments of the San Diego region universities and the professional planning community The liaison is also tasked with assisting student representatives in organizing interested students in becoming more involved in the planning community prior to commencement For more information please contact Kevin Grant at kgrantpacificmunicipalcom or 858-342-8808
Mail-List - Receive the latest SDAPA and news and job announcements by subscribing to our e-mail list No charge Subscribe
Jobs Available - Check here for the latest San Diego Planning jobs Go to jobs
SDAPA Planning Library - Download PowerPoint presentations and workshop materials from SDAPA sponsored workshops and luncheons Download Presentations
Request for Proposals - SDAPA is now accepting RFP documents in downloadable PDF format for posting on our jobs announcements page Go to jobs page
Announcement Requests - Please submit announcement requests by e-mail to gregkprojectdesigncom Announcements should be rele-vant to the San Diego planning community Please see sample announce-ment request Download sample announcement request
Cal State Fullerton Offers Urban Planning Certificate
Advance your career with a Certificate in Urban Planning from Cal State Fullerton Extension This program is designed for current planners
as well as those new to the field and classes begin on June 7 at 630 pm Enrollment opens on April 2 2007 at wwwcsufextensionorgclassescertificate For more information contact Mimi Lawson mlawsonfullertonedu or 7142783313
Environmental Planning Seminars at theUniversity of California Irvine Extension
Cultural Resources and Land Development in California Wednesday April 25 9am-430pm Room 212 UCI Learning Center 200 S
Manchester Orange $225 including materialsIntroduction to NEPA Wednesday May 23 9am-430pm Room 210 UCI Learning Center 200 S Manchester Orange $225 including materi-alsTo enroll wwwextensionuciedu or 949-824-5414For more information 949-824-6538 or japurewauciedu
MW Steele Reorganizes Leadership Staff Positions Itself for Future
MW Steele a prominent architecture and planning firm in San Diego has undergone an internal reorganization to better serve cli-
ents and adapt to a changing business atmosphere in San DiegoldquoMW Steele is evolving to keep pace with the dynamic marketplace spurred by San Diegorsquos phenomenal growth over the past decaderdquo said Mark Steele the companyrsquos president ldquoA new generation of leaders within the firm has stepped up to help MW Steele grow and adaptrdquoThe firm is moving from a single-leader business model to a team approach spreading leadership responsibility among several new princi-pals all of whom have been with the firm for a significant period of timeldquoEach member of this team has contributed to the growth and success of MW Steele over the yearsrdquo Steele said ldquoThis evolution will allow MW Steele to continue to offer its clients innovative and creative thoughts ideas and designs that have made the firm so successfulrdquoMW Steele was formed in the early 1980s as a small firm focusing on small architecture and planning projects Since then it has evolved with more and diverse urban design architecture and policy planning efforts ldquoThis diversification must continue if the firm is to thrive in todayrsquos com-plex and challenging building environmentrdquo said Jennifer Ayala Director of ProjectsThe Cityrsquos urban neighborhoods have become more richly defined over the years offering new avenues and vistas for creative design and plan-ning MW Steele has always been forward-thinking when it comes to urban design It has become uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in larger community planning projects and efforts and compete on a state-wide level Although the company is reorganizing its core values and philosophies will remain the sameldquoThe companyrsquos new principals share the same ideals that created and sustained the firm from its inception nearly a quarter-century agordquo Steele said Steele will continue to serve in a leadership capacity for the fore-seeable future however ownership of the firm will gradually shift to the new principals over time
8
Accomplished Environmental Planning Professional Bobbi Herdes Joins San Diego Environmental Consulting Firm
Bobbi Herdes a skilled and experienced professional recently joined RECON Environmental Inc in San Diego Ms Herdes brings a
breath and depth of knowledge and ability as well as an exemplary record of achievements In her new position as Senior Project Manager at RECON Ms Herdes manages teams of technical experts in preparation of environmental documents (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] and National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]) for an array of large-scale projects throughout southern California Ms Herdes directs a full range of com-plex projects including roadways infrastructure urban redevelopment and mixed-use commercial industrial and residential developmentsMs Herdesrsquo professional career includes over 20 years of senior level planning and environmental consulting experience in both private and public organizations Serving as senior project manager and environmen-tal analyst for three major environmental companies Ms Herdes has directed a multitude of environmental and planning projects She also served as senior environmental planner with the City of San DiegoPrior to joining RECON Ms Herdes was employed at a local consulting firm As business manager she was responsible for all of the companyrsquos financial matters including reporting planning and budgeting Under Ms Herdesrsquo expert leadership the organization doubled in size and experi-enced a tremendous increase in revenue Ms Herdes was honored as a 2004 recipient of the prestigious YMCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award the largest and most promi-nent event in San Diego County recognizing the achievements of women business executives Ms Herdes holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of science in botany
APA Membership
Becoming an American Planning Association member is easy The APA website httpwwwplanningorg offers online mem-
bership services To sign up go to httpwwwplanningorgjoinapa You may also reactivate your membership change your contact information and join up for additional services on the national web-siteAs a Planner there are many benefits by becoming involved in the American Planning Association (APA) Whether you are interested in staying on top of current industry events taking advantage of network opportunities discussing planning issues or just looking for a new job APA is there to help facilitate it As a professional organization APA brings together people who share an interest in working towards better-planned communities APA aims to improve your career by providing opportunities to become more engaged in your profession As a national professional organiza-tion APA is highly recognized by private public and academic entities as being on the forefront of the planning profession
APA creates an opportunity to expand your career As a memberbull Use APA resources to stay up to date on policy issuesbull You are encouraged to become AICP certified American Institute
of Certified Planners (AICP) is a designation for those who choose to take their profession one step further AICP allows you to become a credible planner and show those around you that you are trained as a certified planner In addition our local San Diego APA section offers professional development workshops and luncheons to keep professionals up to date on local planning issues
bull Get recognized Annual conferences and award ceremonies for national state and
local sections offer a way for projects and hard work to be recognized by your professional peers and exchange ideas
To keep members up-to-date on national trends local news and innovative ideas APA provides a number of publications National state and special interest divisions produce monthly periodicals and the San Diego local sec-tion issues a regular newsletter Local workshops luncheons and get-togethers provide an edge for net-working and meeting fellow planners The San Diego APA section calendar can be found on our website httpwwwsdapaorg and each month we offers a variety functions outings and social events to take part in
For students becoming a member of APA is an incredible tool in learning to navigate the professional world of planning The organization offers students discounted rates for membership functions and events including the state and national conferences held once a year To increase the student capabilities the San Diego APA sec-tion encourages involvement from local city planning and urban studies academic programs and has recently offered a scholarship award for local studentsThe most helpful resource and simplest way to stay involved with whatrsquos with happening locally and around the world is to sign up for email notices on the APA websites (National wwwplanningorg and locally wwwsdapaorg ) To become a member visit APArsquos websitehttpwwwplanningorgjoinapa
UC San Diego Extension Urban Planning amp Development
Reach your career goals with practical education through UC San Diego Extension Learn the fundamentals that define planning in both
California and the San Diego region and discover the factors that impact development ndash like the environment and preservation Learn how to plan for community needs and protect one of the worldrsquos most enviable environ-ments Study the theory methods and practice of financing private and public development projects Get practice in a range of communication techniques designed to help you advance your projects Learn how to achieve your planning objectives
For more information on Urban Planning amp Development courses please contact Betsy Stiles at estilesucsdedu or (858) 882-8020 or visit httpextensionucsdedubusiness
9
httpwwwurscorpcom
httpwwwdwgconsultingorgpages1indexhtm
httpwwwgreystoneus
httplightfootpgcom
httpwwwdyettandbhatiacom
httpwwweconrescom
httpwwwhofmanplanningcom
httpwwwjonesandstokescom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom
7
conservation blueprint may hasten the extinction of the very species it is supposed to protect The decision was a serious blow to a plan that was once considered a national modelThe habitat conservation plan enabled the city of San Diego to issue permits to developers allowing them kill some of the 85 protected species which range from the prolific Canada goose to the threatened California gnatcatcher
Continued from Page 6
AnnouncementsSDAPA Academic Liason Mentor Program - Did you know that SDAPA has a Mentor Program that matches planning students with planning professionals Students and faculty members are encouraged to utilize our SDAPA Board liaison to communicate and network between the PlanningGeographyUrban Studies Departments of the San Diego region universities and the professional planning community The liaison is also tasked with assisting student representatives in organizing interested students in becoming more involved in the planning community prior to commencement For more information please contact Kevin Grant at kgrantpacificmunicipalcom or 858-342-8808
Mail-List - Receive the latest SDAPA and news and job announcements by subscribing to our e-mail list No charge Subscribe
Jobs Available - Check here for the latest San Diego Planning jobs Go to jobs
SDAPA Planning Library - Download PowerPoint presentations and workshop materials from SDAPA sponsored workshops and luncheons Download Presentations
Request for Proposals - SDAPA is now accepting RFP documents in downloadable PDF format for posting on our jobs announcements page Go to jobs page
Announcement Requests - Please submit announcement requests by e-mail to gregkprojectdesigncom Announcements should be rele-vant to the San Diego planning community Please see sample announce-ment request Download sample announcement request
Cal State Fullerton Offers Urban Planning Certificate
Advance your career with a Certificate in Urban Planning from Cal State Fullerton Extension This program is designed for current planners
as well as those new to the field and classes begin on June 7 at 630 pm Enrollment opens on April 2 2007 at wwwcsufextensionorgclassescertificate For more information contact Mimi Lawson mlawsonfullertonedu or 7142783313
Environmental Planning Seminars at theUniversity of California Irvine Extension
Cultural Resources and Land Development in California Wednesday April 25 9am-430pm Room 212 UCI Learning Center 200 S
Manchester Orange $225 including materialsIntroduction to NEPA Wednesday May 23 9am-430pm Room 210 UCI Learning Center 200 S Manchester Orange $225 including materi-alsTo enroll wwwextensionuciedu or 949-824-5414For more information 949-824-6538 or japurewauciedu
MW Steele Reorganizes Leadership Staff Positions Itself for Future
MW Steele a prominent architecture and planning firm in San Diego has undergone an internal reorganization to better serve cli-
ents and adapt to a changing business atmosphere in San DiegoldquoMW Steele is evolving to keep pace with the dynamic marketplace spurred by San Diegorsquos phenomenal growth over the past decaderdquo said Mark Steele the companyrsquos president ldquoA new generation of leaders within the firm has stepped up to help MW Steele grow and adaptrdquoThe firm is moving from a single-leader business model to a team approach spreading leadership responsibility among several new princi-pals all of whom have been with the firm for a significant period of timeldquoEach member of this team has contributed to the growth and success of MW Steele over the yearsrdquo Steele said ldquoThis evolution will allow MW Steele to continue to offer its clients innovative and creative thoughts ideas and designs that have made the firm so successfulrdquoMW Steele was formed in the early 1980s as a small firm focusing on small architecture and planning projects Since then it has evolved with more and diverse urban design architecture and policy planning efforts ldquoThis diversification must continue if the firm is to thrive in todayrsquos com-plex and challenging building environmentrdquo said Jennifer Ayala Director of ProjectsThe Cityrsquos urban neighborhoods have become more richly defined over the years offering new avenues and vistas for creative design and plan-ning MW Steele has always been forward-thinking when it comes to urban design It has become uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in larger community planning projects and efforts and compete on a state-wide level Although the company is reorganizing its core values and philosophies will remain the sameldquoThe companyrsquos new principals share the same ideals that created and sustained the firm from its inception nearly a quarter-century agordquo Steele said Steele will continue to serve in a leadership capacity for the fore-seeable future however ownership of the firm will gradually shift to the new principals over time
8
Accomplished Environmental Planning Professional Bobbi Herdes Joins San Diego Environmental Consulting Firm
Bobbi Herdes a skilled and experienced professional recently joined RECON Environmental Inc in San Diego Ms Herdes brings a
breath and depth of knowledge and ability as well as an exemplary record of achievements In her new position as Senior Project Manager at RECON Ms Herdes manages teams of technical experts in preparation of environmental documents (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] and National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]) for an array of large-scale projects throughout southern California Ms Herdes directs a full range of com-plex projects including roadways infrastructure urban redevelopment and mixed-use commercial industrial and residential developmentsMs Herdesrsquo professional career includes over 20 years of senior level planning and environmental consulting experience in both private and public organizations Serving as senior project manager and environmen-tal analyst for three major environmental companies Ms Herdes has directed a multitude of environmental and planning projects She also served as senior environmental planner with the City of San DiegoPrior to joining RECON Ms Herdes was employed at a local consulting firm As business manager she was responsible for all of the companyrsquos financial matters including reporting planning and budgeting Under Ms Herdesrsquo expert leadership the organization doubled in size and experi-enced a tremendous increase in revenue Ms Herdes was honored as a 2004 recipient of the prestigious YMCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award the largest and most promi-nent event in San Diego County recognizing the achievements of women business executives Ms Herdes holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of science in botany
APA Membership
Becoming an American Planning Association member is easy The APA website httpwwwplanningorg offers online mem-
bership services To sign up go to httpwwwplanningorgjoinapa You may also reactivate your membership change your contact information and join up for additional services on the national web-siteAs a Planner there are many benefits by becoming involved in the American Planning Association (APA) Whether you are interested in staying on top of current industry events taking advantage of network opportunities discussing planning issues or just looking for a new job APA is there to help facilitate it As a professional organization APA brings together people who share an interest in working towards better-planned communities APA aims to improve your career by providing opportunities to become more engaged in your profession As a national professional organiza-tion APA is highly recognized by private public and academic entities as being on the forefront of the planning profession
APA creates an opportunity to expand your career As a memberbull Use APA resources to stay up to date on policy issuesbull You are encouraged to become AICP certified American Institute
of Certified Planners (AICP) is a designation for those who choose to take their profession one step further AICP allows you to become a credible planner and show those around you that you are trained as a certified planner In addition our local San Diego APA section offers professional development workshops and luncheons to keep professionals up to date on local planning issues
bull Get recognized Annual conferences and award ceremonies for national state and
local sections offer a way for projects and hard work to be recognized by your professional peers and exchange ideas
To keep members up-to-date on national trends local news and innovative ideas APA provides a number of publications National state and special interest divisions produce monthly periodicals and the San Diego local sec-tion issues a regular newsletter Local workshops luncheons and get-togethers provide an edge for net-working and meeting fellow planners The San Diego APA section calendar can be found on our website httpwwwsdapaorg and each month we offers a variety functions outings and social events to take part in
For students becoming a member of APA is an incredible tool in learning to navigate the professional world of planning The organization offers students discounted rates for membership functions and events including the state and national conferences held once a year To increase the student capabilities the San Diego APA sec-tion encourages involvement from local city planning and urban studies academic programs and has recently offered a scholarship award for local studentsThe most helpful resource and simplest way to stay involved with whatrsquos with happening locally and around the world is to sign up for email notices on the APA websites (National wwwplanningorg and locally wwwsdapaorg ) To become a member visit APArsquos websitehttpwwwplanningorgjoinapa
UC San Diego Extension Urban Planning amp Development
Reach your career goals with practical education through UC San Diego Extension Learn the fundamentals that define planning in both
California and the San Diego region and discover the factors that impact development ndash like the environment and preservation Learn how to plan for community needs and protect one of the worldrsquos most enviable environ-ments Study the theory methods and practice of financing private and public development projects Get practice in a range of communication techniques designed to help you advance your projects Learn how to achieve your planning objectives
For more information on Urban Planning amp Development courses please contact Betsy Stiles at estilesucsdedu or (858) 882-8020 or visit httpextensionucsdedubusiness
9
httpwwwurscorpcom
httpwwwdwgconsultingorgpages1indexhtm
httpwwwgreystoneus
httplightfootpgcom
httpwwwdyettandbhatiacom
httpwwweconrescom
httpwwwhofmanplanningcom
httpwwwjonesandstokescom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom
8
Accomplished Environmental Planning Professional Bobbi Herdes Joins San Diego Environmental Consulting Firm
Bobbi Herdes a skilled and experienced professional recently joined RECON Environmental Inc in San Diego Ms Herdes brings a
breath and depth of knowledge and ability as well as an exemplary record of achievements In her new position as Senior Project Manager at RECON Ms Herdes manages teams of technical experts in preparation of environmental documents (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] and National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]) for an array of large-scale projects throughout southern California Ms Herdes directs a full range of com-plex projects including roadways infrastructure urban redevelopment and mixed-use commercial industrial and residential developmentsMs Herdesrsquo professional career includes over 20 years of senior level planning and environmental consulting experience in both private and public organizations Serving as senior project manager and environmen-tal analyst for three major environmental companies Ms Herdes has directed a multitude of environmental and planning projects She also served as senior environmental planner with the City of San DiegoPrior to joining RECON Ms Herdes was employed at a local consulting firm As business manager she was responsible for all of the companyrsquos financial matters including reporting planning and budgeting Under Ms Herdesrsquo expert leadership the organization doubled in size and experi-enced a tremendous increase in revenue Ms Herdes was honored as a 2004 recipient of the prestigious YMCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award the largest and most promi-nent event in San Diego County recognizing the achievements of women business executives Ms Herdes holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor of science in botany
APA Membership
Becoming an American Planning Association member is easy The APA website httpwwwplanningorg offers online mem-
bership services To sign up go to httpwwwplanningorgjoinapa You may also reactivate your membership change your contact information and join up for additional services on the national web-siteAs a Planner there are many benefits by becoming involved in the American Planning Association (APA) Whether you are interested in staying on top of current industry events taking advantage of network opportunities discussing planning issues or just looking for a new job APA is there to help facilitate it As a professional organization APA brings together people who share an interest in working towards better-planned communities APA aims to improve your career by providing opportunities to become more engaged in your profession As a national professional organiza-tion APA is highly recognized by private public and academic entities as being on the forefront of the planning profession
APA creates an opportunity to expand your career As a memberbull Use APA resources to stay up to date on policy issuesbull You are encouraged to become AICP certified American Institute
of Certified Planners (AICP) is a designation for those who choose to take their profession one step further AICP allows you to become a credible planner and show those around you that you are trained as a certified planner In addition our local San Diego APA section offers professional development workshops and luncheons to keep professionals up to date on local planning issues
bull Get recognized Annual conferences and award ceremonies for national state and
local sections offer a way for projects and hard work to be recognized by your professional peers and exchange ideas
To keep members up-to-date on national trends local news and innovative ideas APA provides a number of publications National state and special interest divisions produce monthly periodicals and the San Diego local sec-tion issues a regular newsletter Local workshops luncheons and get-togethers provide an edge for net-working and meeting fellow planners The San Diego APA section calendar can be found on our website httpwwwsdapaorg and each month we offers a variety functions outings and social events to take part in
For students becoming a member of APA is an incredible tool in learning to navigate the professional world of planning The organization offers students discounted rates for membership functions and events including the state and national conferences held once a year To increase the student capabilities the San Diego APA sec-tion encourages involvement from local city planning and urban studies academic programs and has recently offered a scholarship award for local studentsThe most helpful resource and simplest way to stay involved with whatrsquos with happening locally and around the world is to sign up for email notices on the APA websites (National wwwplanningorg and locally wwwsdapaorg ) To become a member visit APArsquos websitehttpwwwplanningorgjoinapa
UC San Diego Extension Urban Planning amp Development
Reach your career goals with practical education through UC San Diego Extension Learn the fundamentals that define planning in both
California and the San Diego region and discover the factors that impact development ndash like the environment and preservation Learn how to plan for community needs and protect one of the worldrsquos most enviable environ-ments Study the theory methods and practice of financing private and public development projects Get practice in a range of communication techniques designed to help you advance your projects Learn how to achieve your planning objectives
For more information on Urban Planning amp Development courses please contact Betsy Stiles at estilesucsdedu or (858) 882-8020 or visit httpextensionucsdedubusiness
9
httpwwwurscorpcom
httpwwwdwgconsultingorgpages1indexhtm
httpwwwgreystoneus
httplightfootpgcom
httpwwwdyettandbhatiacom
httpwwweconrescom
httpwwwhofmanplanningcom
httpwwwjonesandstokescom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom
9
httpwwwurscorpcom
httpwwwdwgconsultingorgpages1indexhtm
httpwwwgreystoneus
httplightfootpgcom
httpwwwdyettandbhatiacom
httpwwweconrescom
httpwwwhofmanplanningcom
httpwwwjonesandstokescom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom
10
httpwwwprojectdesigncom
httpwwwrbfcom
httpwwwpacificmunicipalcomhome
httpwwwhdrinccom httpwwwwrtdesigncom
httprickengineeringcom
httpwwwesassoccom httpwwwdudekcom