Bob Whitney La Jolla Association Member
On February 6, 2012 the San Diego City Council (SDCC) voted 7-1 to approve the construction of a new home at 8490 Whale Watch Way in La Jolla. Their vote denied an appeal brought on by the La Jolla Community Planning Association, a group in which Councilwoman Lightner was a former Trustee prior to being elected to SDCC. The City Council’s vote certified that the project’s negative declaration would have no significant impacts on the environment, as well as finding that an environmental impact report for the project would not be required.
The project approved by the City Council is the first North American project by internationally acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid. Hadid’s 350 person architectural design firm is headquartered in London. In 2004 Hadid became the first female recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, architecture’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. In 2006 Hadid was honored with a retrospective spanning her entire work at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. In 2008 she ranked 69th on the Forbes list of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.” The 2010 TIME 100 issue named her as one of the world’s most influential thinkers and in the same year, the British magazine, New Statesman listed her in “The World’s 50 Most Influential Figures 2010.”
Despite overwhelming support by the SDCC, City Staff, and unanimous approval from the San Diego Planning Commission, Councilmember Lightner was the lone vote opposing Hadid’s project. As the council debated the project Lightner sensed support growing against the unsubstantiated appeal by her local community group. She nevertheless continued to support the appeal with irrational arguments such as, “Due to the predominance of Zaha Hadid the project would create traffic problems in the neighborhood.” Additionally, Lightner implored, “Residents have found Indian remains while transplanting Rose bushes in this neighborhood” despite contrary evidence from the State of California and her own City Staff.
Now attorney Julie Hamilton, a familiar litigant associated with “nonprofit” groups in La Jolla, has filed yet another lawsuit. The list of groups that Councilwoman Lightner has supported and Hamilton has represented include “No Third Story” (Bird Rock Station) “Taxpayers for Responsible Land Use” (Hillel Student Center), “Save La Jolla” (Cardenas’ Patio), and “La Jolla Shores Tomorrow” (Whitney Residence). Hamilton’s suit seeks to overturn the 7-1 vote by Lightner’s colleagues. Hamilton’s cases are so predictable that she only has to cut and paste from the above mentioned cases to file the lawsuit against Hadid’s project. It is sure to read something like this, “The project is simply too different and the city, in passing it, failed to consider impacts associated with the project to traffic, aesthetics, the environment and land use, particularly archaeology. The project simply isn’t compatible with this area.”
Ms. Lightner, I ask you as a 40 year resident of La Jolla to please stop supporting groundless appeals by the La Jolla Community Planning Association and non-profit groups that use our court system and the CEQA review process to circumvent the approval process and community plans in La Jolla.
Update: Click this link to review this lawsuit: Petition – Other (Petition for Writ of Mandate)
Update: On May 16th La Jolla Shores President Richard Mc Cormack, the petitioner of the above lawsuit, held a fund raiser for Sherri Lightner at his home. Below is a copy of the email inventation sent out from Sherri Lightner.
From: “Sherri Lightner” <kelli@kmstrategies.net>
Date: May 11, 2012 12:14:44 PM PDT
To: (Intentionally Removed)
Subject: Please Join Us for a Reception Next Wednesday, May 16th at 6PM
Reply-To: <kelli@kmstrategies.net>
Please Join
Richard and Grace McCormack
Myrna Naegle
For a Reception
To Support
San Diego City Councilmember
Sherri Lightner
And her 2012 re-election campaign
Wednesday, May 16th
6:00 – 7:30 pm
At the home of Richard and Grace McCormack
8155 Paseo Del Ocaso La Jolla, CA 92037
Suggested Contribution ~ $150
Maximum Contribution ~ $500
Contributions limited to $500 per individual or $1,000 for spouses
with both signatures on the check. Checks can be mailed to
Treasurer Nancy Haley,
c/o 330 Encinitas Blvd, Suite 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Or you may donate online at
To RSVP or for more information contact Jessica at (619) 239-1721
It is unlawful for a contributor to be reimbursed by any organization, business,or similar entity for a contribution supporting or opposing a City candidate.
Contributions are not tax deductible. Contributions are limited to $500 per individual, $1,000 per couple per election. Personal contributions only. Spouses may write separate checksor one check signed by both spouses if the check exceeds $500.
Paid for by Sherri Lightner for City Council 2012. Treasurer, Nancy Haley
8340 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, #107, San Diego, CA 92111
Paid for by Sherri Lightner for City Council 2012.
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