Pacifica council approves consent calendar; sale of 540/570 Crespi passes 3–2 amid public objections
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Summary
The council voted to approve the consent calendar and approved item 7 — sale/rezone for 540/570 Crespi — on a 3–2 vote despite public comments urging protections, affordable housing priority and a request to fix a tree‑ordinance loophole.
Pacifica City Council approved its consent calendar on Jan. 12, including a contested item concerning city property at 540/570 Crespi. The clerk recorded approval of consent items 1–6 unanimously and a 3–2 vote in favor of item 7; Mayor Boles and Council member Espinosa registered 'no' votes and asked that their dissent be reflected in the minutes.
Before the vote, staff noted a correction to an exhibit for item 7 that clarified a rezoning boundary extending onto a city‑owned parcel; corrected hard copies were made available at the meeting.
Several public speakers urged the council to reconsider selling the parcel to for‑profit developers and to prioritize the state land‑use requirement cited by commenters. Suzanne Moore, speaking at the public comment period, said a state law she referenced requires local agencies to prioritize affordable housing, parks and schools when disposing of surplus property and asked the council to reconsider selling the parcel to for‑profit contractors. "Without a renegotiation of this ordinance, the 540 sale remains a sad missed opportunity for our community," Moore said.
Tree City Pacifica member Gail Benton Shoemaker urged council to put language fixing a perceived loophole in the tree ordinance on a future agenda. She said a clause that conditions replacement on a tree being “otherwise healthy” undermined a 2‑for‑1 replacement or in‑lieu fee requirement and asked staff to place an amendment on an upcoming meeting so the council could vote to remove the loophole.
The clerk later announced the vote on item 7 passed 3 in favor, 2 opposed. Council members who opposed said they would note their dissent in the official minutes.
What happens next: the sale and associated rezoning proceed according to the approved agenda item and associated documents; residents and advocacy groups asked staff and council to bring tree‑ordinance language and the Crespi sale back for further review if desired.
