Housing

Board Opposes Fat City Lofts Project

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San Diego County supervisors unanimously approved a resolution opposing the “Fat City Lofts” project Tuesday, saying that building luxury high-rise apartments across the street from Solar Turbines, Inc. threatened thousands of jobs and one of San Diego’s “cornerstone” businesses.

Because the downtown project site is within the City of San Diego, the city — and not the County Board of Supervisors — has the authority to approve or reject the Fat City Lofts project.

However, supervisors’ Greg Cox and Dianne Jacob and Board Chairman Ron Roberts said the Board needed to speak up because building permanent homes within 100 feet of the industrial turbine manufacturer’s plant could force Solar Turbines to move and eliminate its 3,800 local employees.

The city’s Centre City Development Company (CCDC) is scheduled to consider the project Wednesday.

“Very seldom do I feel it’s imperative that we (Supervisors) ) weigh in as a County on land-use issues within the jurisdiction of one of the cities …” Cox said. “Unfortunately, this is one of those times.

“I encourage development when it makes sense,” Cox added, “but not at the expense of thousands of highly-skilled, good-paying, long-term jobs.”

Jacob said, “Particularly in this time of economic uncertainty, we need to do everything possible to keep local jobs and eliminate the chance that one of San Diego’s leading companies could bolt town.”

Solar Turbines, Inc. has operated out of its Pacific Highway location for more than 80 years. However, Solar President Jim Umpleby said at a recent rally that the company could relocate out of state if the Fat City project is approved.

The County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has stated that Solar would face more stringent air pollution regulations if permanent residences were built so close, and that Solar might have to conduct an environmental assessment that could cost $100,000.

APCD Director Bob Kard said building residences nearby could create ongoing problems for the company because APCD would be required to investigate all air quality complaints made by citizens.

Fat City Lofts proponents have suggested that residents could be asked to sign waivers stating that they would not complain.

But Kard said that the County would not be able to recognize such waivers. He also said that in the 30-plus years he had been on the job, he had never seen a situation where residents did not lodge air quality complaints when “incompatible uses — residents and industry — were inappropriately co-located.”