A plan for the development of four condominium towers ‹ three 36-story towers and one 43-story tower in the southwest corner of La Jolla Village Drive and Genessee Avenue ‹ is currently under the second review by the City of San Diego Development Services Department.
The project, called Mar Bella, is under a Costa Verde “”specific plan,”” which previously designated the area for hotel use. Since the project is being designed as multi-family residential towers, project applicants Garden Communities, will make an amendment to the plan allowing for the change.
“”There’s a discretionary process opened to community planning groups,”” said senior planner Gary Geiler. “”Costa Verde has a specific plan that has uses for each lot on the site which designates it for hotel use, so they need to amend the specific plan.””
The change, called the Specific Plan Amendment, would allow the land to be designated as commercial/visitor and high-density multi-family area. The proposed development includes four buildings that would create one 36-story building about 350 feet tall, two 36-story buildings approximately 380 feet tall, and one tower that would be 43 stories and approximately 455 feet tall.
The towers would create up to 200 residential units and also provide approximately 1,909,143 square feet of multi-family residential development. There are also plans to provide four four-level subterranean parking structures that would yield spaces for 1,934 vehicles.
The plans for development are also required to have a community plan amendment, a planned development permit, site development permit and further re-zoning. According to project manager Tim Daly, the staff is currently looking at a resubmitted version of the proposal. He also said that the process is expected to take some time.
After each review, the plans must be resubmitted with the modifications. When all aspects of the development are finalized, a hearing will be held to determine whether to deny or approve the project. The decision for this specific project will be made by the San Diego City Council at the end of the review process.
“”We sent them back a letter with a slew of items,”” Daly said. “”It was just a myriad of information on design, some needs for clarifications on square footage of units, landscaping, parking setbacks and just to make sure that municipal codes would be met.””
The department staff is also recommending that an environmental impact report be drafted to determine the effects of such a project on the environment. The report will include an analysis of how the development will affect traffic, air quality, hydrology and water quality. An EIR takes about a year to be completed. After an EIR is drafted, the project can then go on to the hearing for approval.
“”Analysis for the EIR is still going on,”” Elizabeth Shearer-Nguyen of the department said. “”We’ve done a preliminary study due to the type of project and the substantial impact on the environment.””
After determining that the project would need an EIR, the department also held a public scoping meeting on July 1 to discuss any concerns from the community. At this time, there have been minimal reactions regarding the project.
“”We sent notices to those that would be within a 300-foot radius of the project, and I haven’t received any feedback,”” Daly said.
For some who live in the Costa Verde Apartments, construction in the neighborhood would not be a big issue.
“”It sounds pretty nice,”” said Earl Warren College junior Felipa Rodriguez. “”It’s kind of quiet around here so that might have an effect, but I don’t think people will mind.””
