198-Unit Apartment Project Approved for Parkway Drive Despite Protests

Story and photos by Steven Bartholow

The La Mesa City Council voted Tuesday to approve a 198-unit apartment project at 7380 Parkway Drive after hearing opposition from many that live in that neighborhood.

The council meeting was packed for the hearing about the "luxury" apartment complex, which would be constructed by Fairfield Residential, the company that built the Alterra and Pravada apartment projects on Fletcher Parkway.

The main reason neighbors were opposed was further impact to an already strained traffic situation on and around Parkway Drive. Opponents mostly asked that the number of apartments be cut. The only councilmember to vote against the project, Ruth Sterling, said it was just too large.

"The city needs funding, but I don't feel like selling a neighborhood out to get that funding," said Sterling. "It's an eyesore vacant lot, but I can't go against the public."

Most of the public speakers in favor of the project were from the business community.  (See details in agenda.)

"The project fills a void in the community," said La Mesa Chamber of Commerce President Mary England. "It offers space for young professionals and empty nesters, and will yield $500,000 in property tax annually."

The city Planning Commission already approved the project, and council's 4-1 vote puts the complex on track for development.

The 8.6-acre lot once housed Coleman College, but was considered a vacant eyesore and crime attractor for nearly six years. The previous apartment project proposed for the lot was denied by the council in 2006.

The lot was zoned for "general commercial/urban residential," but the council's vote changed it to "multiple unit residential." This allows up to 16 more dwellings per acre, which the project calls for (23 per acre). The buildings will range from one to four stories, and a special permit will be needed to allow an extra five feet of height than is normally allowed.

The parking situation will allow for 2.1 spaces per unit, or 1.26 spaces per bedroom (324 bedrooms).

One public speaker's statement summed up what many on the council expressed: "This project is the most practical we could get in that space."

The opponents to the project asked for an extension on the vote, saying that not enough neighbors were notified in time (only 64 notices were sent out) and that a city email problem didn't allow opponents to efficiently contact councilmembers. They included many anecdotes of backed up traffic on Parkway Drive and the resulting accidents and near misses that they've seen in the area.

Councilmember Mark Arapostathis said he feared that a commercial project even larger than the proposed complex could find it's way to that lot if the council voted against it.