The residents of Lincoln Acres, a San Diego County neighborhood adjoining National City, were deeply concerned about a proposal to pack too many commercial uses and some residences onto a small, 0.68-acre site. The proposed commercial uses included a car wash, gas station, a drive-thru restaurant, and a convenience store with beer, wine, and hard liquor sales. Five apartments were also proposed for the site.

On the evening of December 2nd, numerous Lincoln Acre residents packed the National City Planning Commission hearing. They spoke about severe traffic conditions that already existed in the area and their fears about how the proposed development would worsen congestion and safety issues. Traffic problems were exacerbated by funeral processions up to 200 cars long traveling through Lincoln Acres to reach a nearby cemetery. Neighborhood residents also spoke of the problems they suffered due to their area already accommodating twice the number of alcohol outlets considered reasonable. The residents decried the proposal to add yet another beer, wine, and whiskey outlet. Noise and air pollution were also major concerns. Noise would come from vehicles queueing up in a drive-thru line proposed a mere five feet from adjoining homes late into the night. Sound from proposed car wash blowers-dryers would add even more noise. Air pollution from drive-thru vehicle exhaust and gas station benzene releases would jeopardize the health of area residents along with children attending a home daycare just five feet away.

At the end of the three-hour hearing Planning Commission members debated whether to continue the hearing so the applicant and staff could come up with another, less harmful plan. In the end though the Commissioners opted to deny the Conditional Use Permit and CEQA exemption the project required. With some assistance from CEDS, the leaders of this effort, Alisha and Doyle Morrison, did an amazing job rallying neighborhood support and educating their neighbors about issues to emphasize during the hearing. Lincoln Acres residents are now gearing up for a possible applicant appeal of the Planning Commission denial to the National City Council.

For further information contact Doyle Morrison at Doyle.Morrison@csielectric.com and see his testimony at: https://app.box.com/s/f3h0f7hle5r28cyd5d4kx9n9rsceywhf.