NO on L: The campaign against Pacifica’s Measure L

Rather than first work with the Planning Commission and City Council, as Trammel Crow did in 2002, Peebles decided to go around them completely, and obtained the help of local property managment firm owner Mark Claussen to circulate a petition to place a measure on the November ballot. The ballot measure would authorize Peebles to build pretty much whatever he wants, provided it:

• includes a luxury hotel of up to 350 rooms and restaurant, retail, and commercial space
• consists of up to 355 residential units of varying types,
• includes a commitment from the developer that all of the elements of the project will be built, conditioned on receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals.
  

Not much of a "committment' there, as much as a request for a free hand. Not too different from what he planned to do a year before the "Charrette", either.

Then again, the petition really holds his feet to the fire to make sure the project:

• complies with all land use regulations in effect at the time and is subject to complete environmental review
  
• preserves and protects at least 45 percent of the land as publicly accessible open space.
  
• preserves public access to privately owned open space.

No map to show where that "45 percent" is, nor whether it is required by hillside preservation, or is protected wetlands i.e. Calera Creek.

There are no specifics in the petition which would obligate Peebles to provide anything requested or promised in "Charrettes", including:

• No committment to "Green" building or LEED compliance
• No committment to build a lbrary, City Hall, or aquatic center
• No committment to public ownership of the town square
  
• No committment to any mix of locally-owned vs. corporate chain-store businesses
  
• No committment to any kind of renewable energy
  
• No committment on any specifica proportion of commercial/residential
  
• No committment on traffic mitigation
  
• No committment to exactly what that "open space" might be
  
• No map or drawing of the development included with the petition.

This petition was announced in the Tribune on Wednesday. That same evening, paid petition-gatherers from out-of-town were already present at the Safeway in Manor. The Trammel Crow development was for 315 units; this one is for 355 units.

What we are experiencing here is a full-on coordinated marketing blitz.