I knew it would come to this: Chula Vista is now the home of “half enough is good enough!”
Case 1: In the original design of Otay Ranch, there was to be an Eastern Urban Center. This was hoped to be the University Towne Centre of the south! A development that would boost the tax base and jobs base for Chula Vista — which Chula Vista desperately lacks.
The Easter Urban Center (now called Millenia) would include 3.4 million square feet of ‘commercial.’ That is almost four times the size of Horton Plaza. It was also the only place east of I-5 allowed to build 15-story buildings. Maybe an insurance company would take over, creating hundreds of good jobs.
Well, last week the planning commission put the kibosh to that. The developer may now produce as little as 1.6 million square feet of ‘commercial’ space — about half of the original goal. Apparently, “half enough is good enough” for Chula Vista.
Case 2: At the same meeting, the planning commission approved a five-story apartment house at the southeast corner of Third and E Street. But the Urban Core Specific Plan says that residential units in that area only need to provide one-half of the normal parking requirements if there is a public parking lot within 500 feet. So they approved 23 residential units, with 20 parking places.
Apparently, “half enough is good enough” is the new motto for Chula Vista officials.
Peter Watry is a member of Crossroads II and resides in Chula Vista.
