Surfing in the California desert? Developer’s plan sparks outrage over water use, drought
This story is the latest in a series of blogs detailing how California’s most famous beaches are being affected by a large and complicated new development project. To stay on top of developments from around the state, check the links at the bottom of this story for updates.
After more than 20 years of planning and planning and then more planning, the first phase of a major development on the Southern California coast is moving forward. It’s going to be huge.
Last week, the City Council voted unanimously to approve a developer’s plan for a $100 million, nearly two-mile-long, 1,500-house tract of land in La Jolla.
But the public is up in arms. The community has been waiting for more than two years to hear whether enough water is available to fill in this new housing tract.
“The people who are going to be affected by this development are going to suffer greatly if they don’t get their water turned on during the construction process,” said a resident who lives in the area where the development is planned. But that resident would rather see the city and developer find a way to make water available, he said.
The developer, which is called Sun-Trust, is proposing to turn on water and sewage lines in the area.
“There has to be another way,” said the resident, who wanted to remain anonymous. “I don’t know how to get to the point of no return.”
The developer says no problem
Sun-Trust spokesman Jeff Knepp says that the developer does not plan to interrupt the water flow in the area.
“We have the permits for the water and sewer lines,” Knepp told the Sun-Sentinel in an email. “We have the permits to operate all the water and sewer systems, so why would we stop water flow?”
The developer hopes to finish construction in July. It plans to move in first-year residents by early September. The building will include 1,500 one-bedroom apartments. Developers say the plans are subject to change as the process moves forward, and that the site could include as many as 12,500 housing Units.