Ocean Beach talks about the next 30 years

Over 60 people turned out for the Ocean Beach Town Council’s “town hall” meeting at the Masonic Lodge on November 13. Attendees were there to help decide how to shape the community over the next 30 years.

The town council allowed locals to speak about changes they would like to see over time.

Nicole Burgess, a biking advocate, talked about making O.B. a more friendly bike town.

Vince Adami suggested that big events be staged at Robb Field instead of the pier parking lot in order to free up the lot for beach users’ parking.

OB Rag publisher Frank Gormlie stated that the inevitable population increase in O.B. will require more public transportation, such as trolleys.

Lynn Miller and Patty Lewis spoke up about a restaurateur wanting to open an establishment on the quiet south side of O.B., on Point Loma Boulevard. They were concerned over a traffic increase and problems due to the fact that they want to serve beer and wine.

I spoke with Mindy Pellesier, owner of the Dog Beach Dog Wash on Voltaire Street, who in the past was the chair and a facilitator for the community plan that has been in the works for the past 11 years.

She stated that the plan was in development for so long that it couldn't prevent the "McMansions from being built on West Point Loma Boulevard,” which caused an uproar in the community. She is anxious to see it finalized.

Pellesier told me the plan has to go to a historical review board in January, the city Planning Commission in February, then to the San Diego City Council and the Coastal Commission for the final say. She stated that O.B. is a "fully urbanized community," built out: according to Pellesier, there are only seven vacant lots left in O.B.

The planning board will convene on December 4 to make some decisions regarding the concerns expressed at the meeting. All meetings are open to the public.