Moved by the testimony of worried neighbors and citing concern over the possibility of setting a precedent for future canyon-facing development, the La Jolla Community Planning Association narrowly voted to oppose plans for an accessory dwelling unit on a property in La Jolla Shores.
After more than an hour of discussion during its May 7 meeting, the LJCPA board voted 8-6 to recommend that the city of San Diego reject the project, which would build an approximately 1,100-square-foot detached ADU at 2734 Bordeaux Ave. The two-story unit with a basement would be built into the hillside behind the main house.
The project was heard at the April 16 La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee meeting, where it was unanimously opposed.
At the LJCPA meeting, applicant representative Patrick Vercio of Island Architects in La Jolla said the main house would not be touched and the ADU would be largely out of public view. The latest design, he said, came after “a lot of back-and-forth with neighbors and the community groups” and is intended to have “an organic shape, working with the topography and blending it into the surroundings … and sinking it into the hillside.”
But neighbors were not entirely convinced.
About 10 residents spoke against the project, citing impacts to the nearby canyon, the size of the development and the possibility of a precedent.
“I’m quite concerned about projects like this … occurring in other parts of La Jolla … and chipping away at precious canyonland,” said neighbor Elaine Schneider. “I’m concerned that a project like this is going to be the thin edge of a wedge and will be replicated all over the city, all over La Jolla.”
Others called the canyon a “really special place” and opposed building something into the hillside. Neighbors argued there would be a negative impact on area wildlife and that hikers’ view of the canyon would be disrupted.
In discussing the size of the project, LJCPA trustee Kevin Leon noted that to qualify for an ADU under the city’s rules, a development must be less than 1,200 square feet. Though the ADU itself would be under that, it also would have a 480-square-foot basement. If that were to count in calculating the ADU’s overall size, the project would be over 1,500 square feet.
Neighbors also argued that the existing house on the property is larger than those that surround it and that adding the ADU would increase the bulk and scale.
Island Architects representatives Tony Crisafi and Patrick Vercio present their plans for the addition of an accessory dwelling unit at 2734 Bordeaux Ave. to the La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee on April 16. (Screenshot by Noah Lyons)
Additional concerns were raised about the area on the property where the ADU would be built.
During trustee comments, several board members were unsure how to proceed.
“I’m really torn on this,” said member Glen Rasmussen. “I’m hearing both sides and am very sympathetic to both sides. I think the architects treated it with a great deal of sensitivity, yet on the other hand, I can see that development on this lot is sticking out quite a bit further than any other development on the street. … This is a tough one.”
After a brief discussion, the board voted to back the PRC recommendation to deny the project.
Other LJCPA news
Torrey Pines Road guardrail: A long-awaited project to install a new guardrail on the north side of Torrey Pines Road between Prospect Place and Coast Walk is headed toward construction later this year, according to local volunteer Kathleen Neil.
The plan will replace a white K-rail barrier with 350 feet of metal bridge rail.
Neil said the project, which has been in the works since 2021, is fully funded but has not yet been put out to bid. Construction should begin in the fall and take about 8½ months, she said.
“The problem we have is that … the bicycle lane and the sidewalk will be closed during the … construction,” Neil said. “Because of where it is located, the city has agreed to divert pedestrian traffic at the HAWK beacon [near the intersection with Princess Street] over to the opposite side of the road. From there, the bike lane will be converted into pedestrian use.”
However, that will temporarily eliminate the dedicated bicycle lane. Thus, Neil said an effort is underway to let local cycling groups and places that rent out bicycles know there will be changes in how the road can be used.
CIP list: As part of an ongoing effort to submit a unified list of requested capital improvement projects for the city to carry out, LJCPA voted to resubmit last year’s list for the upcoming fiscal year.
Each year, City Council members are given funds for projects in their districts. Each year since 2022, LJCPA, La Jolla Parks & Beaches, La Jolla Shores Association and Bird Rock Community Council have come together to draft a master list of capital improvement requests for the city.
Given that all of the LJCPA-recommended projects from the 2025 list went unaddressed, the board voted to resubmit the same list. Those projects include repaving Neptune Place and addressing infrastructure and flood concerns there, repairing and reopening the belvedere, or gazebo, overlooking Boomer Beach, repairing the railings and gate at the Children’s Pool seawall, repairing and reopening the South Casa Beach stairways, and establishing a pedestrian crosswalk at the El Paseo Grande and Camino del Oro triangle in La Jolla Shores.
A meeting is to be held this week to compile the lists from all four participating groups and create one to submit to the city for consideration.
Next meeting: The La Jolla Community Planning Association next meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. The agenda will be posted 72 hours in advance at lajollacpa.org. ♦