Miramar Gets Conceptual Approval
Rick Caruso's Miramar got conceptual approval yesterday from the Montecito Planning Commission after promising less rooms, more parking space and an intention to follow some design gudelines -- did anyone think he wouldn't get what he came for? Being unable to separate the difference between previous owners, their plans and the changes Caruso made -- from the public's desire to have something, make that anything, happen at the hotel property was a challenge for the opposition. Caruso wrote the textbook on how to get a plan passed without environmental review -- and it provides a poor precedent for the future.
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 8/29/2008 07:23:00 AM
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6 Comments:
Don't worry folks, as it is 100% certain that there is going to be a lawsuit filed against this project, and it will delay this proposed monster project by 2 years when the courts force the developer to do a EIR as required by CEQA law.______________the irony here is that the developer could have done an EIR on his own and started his construction a year sooner then he will be able to now.
Why did the MPC cave in? What sort of pressure was exerted upon them in the two week "cooling off period" between meetings. I know its meaningless cause this project absent an EIR will ultimately be rejected by a judge, but it is sad that much like Bill Levy did to the City planning process, Caruso and his toxic minions have subverted and tainted the county planning process-especially the public input part. shame.
Caruso's proven Bity City formula:
Trash the property until it is so grotesque that people will support anything just to get it cleaned up.
Good precendence. This is an over-bloated, hyper-ventilated project that bears no resemblance to the orginal approved project. Caruso is bringing in more cheap labor jobs who have no place to live.
Way to go, planning commissioners. You did not plan; you pandered.
Where's the workforce housing component of this project? Shouldn't that be required and forced into the Montecito neighborhoods with all that extra land just waiting to be developed? Why should the graceful Montecito estates be exempt from this madness?
Sara et al., can't you graciously accept a compromise situation? It appears not.
The Montecito Planning Commission put Caruso through quite a wringer and tapdance routine until he made changes that were acceptable to them.
I believe this opposition just refuses to be happy until Caruso (or, I actually believe ANY developer of the hotel site, contrary to what you say regarding contrast to "previous owners") is fed up and gives up. Perhaps you can take cold comfort in the fact that you share something (rabid and irrational hatred of the Miramar project) in common with Mr. TK Armstrong.
I believe the Caruso Miramar project includes four workforce housing units.
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