[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6053876,"mediaKeyId","3343563-5f18e16d6c52e595097b006473bf2425","parentId",3343563,"title","La Mesa council denies appeal and approves 73‑unit Jericho Road townhomes with added parking, drainage and traffic study conditions","audioSeconds",3836,"startMs",4451000,"endMs",8287000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3343563-5f18e16d6c52e595097b006473bf2425&start=4451&end=8287","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3343563-5f18e16d6c52e595097b006473bf2425/thumbnail_4451000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6053876/La-Mesa/San-Diego-County/California/La-Mesa-council-denies-appeal-and-approves-73unit-Jericho-Road-townhomes-with-added-parking-drainage-and-traffic-study-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053876-7a0d18c854458a45224091d7ffd39fd0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076614&Signature=h-BbZNSO1cyYR9fFgFKqp0VfXbDP3FqhKUqpvkZkfFDQSuAv-j8V44aL-XQ6YOU7qClws7YfM1~7U~qguMGwD4kq1K4dUxXFhU8hhEzmsK9ZUVDjoyNO8wqQrx1p47t6V3fiO77O49vxWEMTVK1B16-uqDmVstijIe9~0rrTmIPtmjbOraZzsI-WuieMNUnhGQJHcS7O9Aqm5O8XjN1pKwO0KhGgD4dhg40uXN0j0bB1ZM8WEWvGof239sk~otBeAhuTpFN9ZgeMSRe8~vrOdJLVCBkUEgmxK17VE0JuBclv3h7qrjTjVJNnjOk3GChbIUI8nUmfOlnI5NrWjzsUuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","La Mesa, CA","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","The La Mesa City Council on May 13 denied an appeal of the Planning Commission decision and approved a 73‑unit townhome project proposed for 9407 Jericho Road, with conditions the council added after extensive public comment and neighbor testimony.

The action resolves an appeal from nearby residents who argued the rezone, density and driveway access would be unsafe and incompatible with the predominantly single‑family neighborhood. Councilmember Genevieve Casares moved to deny the appeal; the motion passed 4‑1 (Casares, Suzuki, Vice Mayor Dillard and Mayor Rapistaff voting yes; Councilmember Lothian voting no).

Why it matters: The project would change the site’s land‑use and zoning from single‑family (R1/urban residential) to multi‑unit (R3/multiple unit residential), enabling 73 for‑sale townhomes — 8 of them restricted to moderate‑income households — on a 3.49‑acre site near the Amaya trolley station. Supporters framed the proposal as “missing middle” for‑sale housing that helps La Mesa meet state housing goals; opponents said the site’s single vehicular access, steep grades and limited on‑street capacity will endanger neighbors and overwhelm local streets.

Staff and applicant presentations
Staff told council the project had undergone environmental review under CEQA and that an initial study resulted in a mitigated negative declaration with required mitigation measures. The planning report said technical reviews for traffic, drainage, sewer and fire access found impacts could be mitigated and that the site’s proposed density (about 20.9 units per acre) fit the multiple‑unit residential designation the applicant requested.

Meritage Homes representatives said the design includes nine three‑story buildings, two‑car garages for each unit and on‑site guest parking for visitors. Applicant representative Louisa Lehi said the company had conducted outreach and that the project meets the city and state standards; she told council, “we support the findings presented by staff and recommend denial of the appeal.”

Opposition from neighbors
Dozens of residents and property owners testified against the project at the public hearing, citing traffic, parking, drainage and visual impacts. Appellant Carlos Drago told council the proposal was a “square peg entering a round community hole” and asked council to “please maintain the zoning at 9407 Jericho to R1 and build responsibly.” Neighbors described narrow local streets, a steep Jericho Road approach and recurrent runoff and seepage problems downslope on Amaya Drive.

Council action and conditions
Council voted to deny the appeal and then took the separate entitlements in sequence. The council adopted the mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring program, approved the requested general plan amendment, introduced the rezoning ordinance to change the property to R3, approved the site development plan and approved the tentative tract map for airspace subdivision. The Council also ratified the Design Review Board recommendation.

Because of the neighborhood concerns raised during the hearing, council added specific conditions to the site development approval: the developer will reconfigure the tot‑lot area to expand on‑site guest parking from five spaces to ten; install stormwater capture/drainage measures and additional catch basins as required by the city engineer to reduce runoff to downhill properties; and provide a follow‑up traffic analysis to the city within approximately one year of occupancy (timing to be tied to final occupancy or a comparable milestone) to evaluate neighborhood effects and trigger city traffic‑calming or other remedies if warranted.

What the approvals do and do not do
Councilmembers emphasized the narrow scope of the appeal process: the council reviewed the Planning Commission record, staff analysis and testimony and determined that the legal findings supporting the Planning Commission action were met. The approvals do not yet authorize construction permits; the developer must meet conditions, submit final engineering, and comply with mitigation measures before receiving building permits or occupancy.

Next steps and follow‑up
• The project will proceed to final engineering and permit review with the added conditions; the city engineer and public works will review stormwater and catch‑basin locations.
• A traffic study will be submitted and reviewed after substantial occupancy as specified in the council order; if the study shows unanticipated neighborhood impacts, the city’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program was identified as the mechanism for evaluating traffic calming.
• The project will establish a homeowners association to manage common areas and enforce parking rules in the community.

Residents who testified were given the council’s direction to work with staff and the developer on implementation details; councilmembers encouraged staff to monitor claims of drainage and sight‑distance issues as plans move forward.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Tuesday, May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The La Mesa City Council on May 13 denied an appeal and approved a 73‑unit Meritage Homes townhome project at 9407 Jericho Road, adding conditions that expand guest parking, require additional stormwater controls and a post‑construction traffic review.","taxTitle","La Mesa, San Diego County, California","taxId",3983,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6053861,"Residents urge action on Tungsten Canyon brush and encampment, citing summer fire risk",268,2367000,2635000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3343563-5f18e16d6c52e595097b006473bf2425&start=2367&end=2635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3343563-5f18e16d6c52e595097b006473bf2425/thumbnail_2367000.jpg","/articles/6053861/La-Mesa/San-Diego-County/California/Residents-urge-action-on-Tungsten-Canyon-brush-and-encampment-citing-summer-fire-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053861-4a507e17e12fa40f0bbc9d986fb73de0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076614&Signature=M-u4QeVKlsTUhjVG-fx3UpOQkuCPlHckktVuXh2c-h-HcQ8hbOzTuEvUvUc17pJk-5P9BzzmhpwJlv6Kr-ay0PPQWlz3PSuaWmmKVqq4itR2Ik8D06pp68~fX~Bo-IAX900Ae3Cc357kuKK7y2nUyaSJMZMCf98FEng2p9gQZTw5Arb~SUoWjYF31OrIdgjPdjoDrxpaXxa29ANwP3FZyR3yLdF4HdPiW6zpl~fkMZ0Z8SQptvubZOFJioILWhJ5VsDV2jDzsZ1~0z0mTe1C2x~ZPskcjiCalGcbdkUJ9Bx96oXOeh8t7qgGLfbTqBsyvhitBer2~GVY4mrSmf23Tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents living near Tungsten Canyon told the La Mesa City Council on May 13 that the canyon’s brush regrowth and periodic encampments present a growing fire risk and urged the city to plan and budget for ongoing maintenance.

What residents described
Longtime neighbors said Tungsten Canyon — privately owned but within the city’s jurisdiction for certain public‑safety interventions — has re‑vegetated after earlier cleanups and now contains dry brush and sporadic encampments that can be hidden from passing patrols. Resident Ted Childers and others provided photographs showing vegetation and temporary encampment sites. Childers told council the encampment “is behind a small ridge and cannot be seen from high street by police patrols going by,” and urged early, repeated maintenance rather than infrequent, large‑scale clearances.

Why it matters
Speakers emphasized that dry brush on slopes is a well‑known summer fire hazard in San Diego County. Neighbors asked the city to develop a logistics plan to begin incremental clearance now, noting that sporadic, recurring maintenance is cheaper and safer than infrequent, major projects and reduces the chance of a fire moving rapidly upslope toward homes.

Council direction and next steps
Neighbors asked the council to explore budget options to support phased maintenance, to coordinate with the private property owner and to empower public‑safety staff to work on a near‑term clearance plan. Several speakers asked for the city to prioritize the canyon for brush management in the coming budget cycle and to avoid multi‑year delays.

","Several La Mesa residents urged the council to address overgrown brush, recurring encampments and public‑safety risks in Tungsten Canyon, a privately owned but publicly sensitive canyon area. Speakers asked the city to coordinate with the property owner, begin phased brush management and not to delay work until costs rise.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6053866,"Students’ ‘child‑friendly La Mesa’ resource map prompts council to form ad hoc committee to study youth engagement",893,887000,1780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3343563-5f18e16d6c52e595097b006473bf2425&start=887&end=1780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3343563-5f18e16d6c52e595097b006473bf2425/thumbnail_887000.jpg","/articles/6053866/La-Mesa/San-Diego-County/California/Students-childfriendly-La-Mesa-resource-map-prompts-council-to-form-ad-hoc-committee-to-study-youth-engagement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053866-4ef7a0fc956442673091206c370e4af6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076614&Signature=aIQoN1iiGl7CP9ieGCCsOWRWHp2VvNsRBZzWaUuy0A~OXGf4fPqEyPegCBR4NqUA0OokLkAhBGWBJXWea7lGGP-CiHs3B~62Ug0x3G~dqjXUzvS9xZYM80j-uO1r9krXTkIeRQCn1QwkbzLqHr9KhB8dAzCfHDTz~3027wBpM5MqGdoRfIJsLfAwKyTuCSAh~V6ux1kESjpChA6QXE86me54B2IUAJwmsRm-H~1B2WKIw~phyrXcUOXXv5ho4kygZ~dBSLM845tmJWD8bpWVlWFXgh1dkD-vT9MKFKWWdch4TCnLZpP7h4nwzjQ5IVtTRUkL4Ck1EARiKrZLoC~PdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Student researchers and local volunteers presented a “child‑friendly La Mesa” initiative and a public resource map at the May 13 La Mesa City Council meeting, and the council voted to form an ad hoc committee to investigate next steps and report back.

What was presented
Students from San Diego State University and members of the La Mesa Hope Alliance described the Young People's Environment, Society, and Space Research Center’s semester project: a searchable resource map with nearly 200 community resources, filters by category and service, and user submission and gap surveys. Presenters — identified as Violet Navarette, Athena Eubanks and Chance Kernan — said the tool was designed to make services visible, to collect feedback, and to help include youth voice in municipal planning. “Every child deserves to grow up in a community where they feel safe, healthy, and like they belong,” Violet Navarette told the council.

Council response and motion
Councilmembers praised the students’ work and asked staff to consider how the city could host and sustain the online map. To pursue the idea more deliberately, council approved an ad hoc committee to investigate next steps; the committee will be comprised of the councilmember proposers (the mayor and Councilmember Suzuki were identified by speakers as leading this effort) and will report back to the council with recommendations for maintaining the resource map, expanding youth participation and assessing existing youth engagement platforms such as the youth advisory commission.

Why it matters
Presenters argued the city already has many services for young people but lacks a coordinated, data‑driven approach that centers youth in planning and service delivery. The resource map and self‑assessment tools were offered as practical first steps; presenters asked the council to host the map on the city website and to assess institutional ways for youth to participate in decision‑making.

Next steps
The ad hoc committee will inventory existing youth platforms, evaluate hosting the SDSU‑created resource map on the city website, and recommend ways to maintain the database (students said SDSU could host during semester work and Hope Alliance has offered to manage the resource inputs). Council direction included exploring UNICEF child‑friendly city resources and best practices where appropriate while preserving oversight and local control.

","Student presenters from San Diego State and the La Mesa Hope Alliance showed a youth resource map and urged institutionalizing youth input; council agreed to create an ad hoc committee to study how to sustain and scale the work and to consider placing the resource map on the city website.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6053871,"La Mesa council adopts Bike and Sidewalk Connections planning phase over dissent on Gateside and neighborhood priorities",471,3931000,4402000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3343563-5f18e16d6c52e595097b006473bf2425&start=3931&end=4402","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3343563-5f18e16d6c52e595097b006473bf2425/thumbnail_3931000.jpg","/articles/6053871/La-Mesa/San-Diego-County/California/La-Mesa-council-adopts-Bike-and-Sidewalk-Connections-planning-phase-over-dissent-on-Gateside-and-neighborhood-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053871-4b38cdb87ae90f27333e35693ed8c6b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076614&Signature=nxFNg1GgROv1IzdLuzJHSPwIaTUGp0iuR8c-IwE21Q1d~wMlfw0BhiA5l~InRajJLyQ1AQnD6K1CfvC1Vw9ZbJaON7u4y7G9C3DZuW4LJt-4LVQD5OqUwth5UzQhc019YAjG8oCUpxEp5GDY2x8gn4Ze2d-HFwBUcJndGAJZAhO7Bt5HFq9m6hScGNzIyJz5mj0mtULJNPHXFHotI~ausICTqW6ycCw5wFYYi5zh4oelbzmYbSYD-p0Y6fLmvWgXE2Es4ZledAkXnX~I82nTKZtAWEf-AGCNL~8rMNq~ENve-1Q9mWjFhg13XV4ec~MJu9RHXXdx2Qp3YCrPS3bO7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The La Mesa City Council on May 13 approved a resolution to adopt the La Mesa Bike and Sidewalk Connections project planning phase, moving the city closer to detailed design and future construction of bike lanes and pedestrian improvements. The vote was 4‑1: Councilmember Genevieve Casares, Councilmember Suzuki, Vice Mayor Dillard and Mayor Rapistaff voted yes; Councilmember Lauren Lothian voted no.

Why it matters: The item drew an unusually large public turnout and split public comment. Supporters said targeted bike and sidewalk investments improve safety, reduce serious injuries and align with La Mesa’s Vision Zero and climate goals. Opponents — including some residents who said narrow neighborhood streets and limited parking already strain local residents — argued the city should prioritize traffic‑calming and maintenance of local streets over new bike lanes where demand appears low.

Key testimony and debate
Councilmember Lauren Lothian opposed the plan’s inclusion of a number of corridors that she said were impractical and underused. “Gateside is so narrow. It's room for 1 car going 1 way and 1 car going the other,” she said during debate, and she questioned spending on new bike lanes while many neighborhood streets remain on long waiting lists for traffic calming.

Councilmember Genevieve Casares countered with safety data, citing research that “cities like ours that create bike lanes saw a 44 drop in traffic fatalities and a 50 percent drop in serious injuries across all road users.” Supporters in public comment urged the council to adopt the plan to make walking and bicycling practical for local trips to shops, school and transit.

Public comments reflected the split: some residents praised the city’s outreach and urged adoption as a safety measure; others raised concerns about roundabouts, maintenance of new facilities, loss of parking and whether corridors such as Gateside and Spring Street were appropriate candidates.

Vote and immediate outcomes
Councilmember Casares moved approval and the motion passed on the consent calendar after Lothian pulled item 10.5 for separate discussion. Councilmembers confirmed that the La Mesa Boulevard complete streets plan would not remove parking spaces under the current designs discussed in the meeting.

Details cited in debate
• Councilmember Lothian said the city already has about “61 miles of bike lanes” consisting largely of sharrows (shared‑lane markings) and questioned adding separated facilities in many locations without clear local demand.
• Staff and several public commenters noted the planning phase will identify designs, impacts and potential property/right‑of‑way needs prior to construction; actual construction would require future funding and project‑level approvals.

Next steps
Adoption of the planning phase initiates project‑level planning, outreach and design work. The council did not appropriate construction funding at this meeting; future design and budget decisions will return to council for approval.

","The City Council approved the La Mesa Bike and Sidewalk Connections planning‑phase resolution after heated public comment about neighborhood safety, parking and priorities for limited traffic‑management funds. The vote was 4‑1, with Councilmember Lothian opposed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

La Mesa council denies appeal and approves 73‑unit Jericho Road townhomes with added parking, drainage and traffic study conditions

Residents urge action on Tungsten Canyon brush and encampment, citing summer fire risk

Students’ ‘child‑friendly La Mesa’ resource map prompts council to form ad hoc committee to study youth engagement

La Mesa council adopts Bike and Sidewalk Connections planning phase over dissent on Gateside and neighborhood priorities