LA JOLLA, California (Press Release) — The executive director of Hillel of San Diego says his organization’s quest to build a new center near the UCSD campus has not been deterred by a local planning unit’s advisory vote against the project.
Michael Rabkin wrote to supporters of Hillel: “On Tuesday last week {March 27}, Hillel of San Diego board member Josh Richman presented to the La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee on behalf of Hillel. It was inspiring to see the many friends of Hillel who came out to show their support. Thank you for being there!
“Hillel is in the process of applying for a permit to construct the Center for Jewish Life in La Jolla across from UCSD. Part of the process involves presenting before a variety of community planning groups on certain issues. These community planning groups and subcommittees’ actions are advisory and not binding on the City Council, who are the final decision makers. Indeed, the City Council approved our project in 2006 and the sale of the land, even though all of the local planning groups opposed the project. Nevertheless, it is a necessary step of the planning process and demonstrates our honest desire to be good neighbors.
“On Tuesday, the committee voted on whether Hillel’s project met certain qualifications to provide for a ‘street vacation,’ a technical requirement for developing the land we purchased from the city. The committee voted against Hillel.
“But we will not be deterred. The local planning groups have not been supportive of the project in the past and remain unsupportive. The most important meeting will be later this year at San Diego City Council, which will have the authority to rule on the permit directly.
“There will be other community planning meetings at which your presence will be helpful to demonstrate to the planning groups and members of the community that Hillel has wide support for this project. We will inform you as soon as we know when Hillel is on the agenda at one of those upcoming meetings.”
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Preceding provided by Hillel of San Diego