Quarry Quandary: A Rockaway Businessman's Take on the Undeveloped Land's Future
He wants a mixed-use residential/commercial downtown with nature worked in.
Videos
Much of Pacifica's future hinges on the Quarry, a huge piece of undeveloped, commercial-zoned property west of Highway 1 between the Rockaway Beach area and Vallemar.
For nearly two decades, city officials, developers and citizens have been trying to figure out what use to which the 86-acre former limestone quarry should be put. Should it remain undeveloped as a kind of park? Should Pacifica build the downtown area it's currently lacking complete with a public square and housing? Should it go to big-box stores?
The most recent attempt to do something with the land was made by Donahue Peebles of Florida-based Peebles Corp. He seemed to favor the "downtown" plan, but eventually, after strife with the community in 2008 and 2009, backed out and dropped any plans for the land.
The land remains of upmost importance to Pacifica's future. At the Jan. 29 Pacifica General Plan Update community forum, Rajeev Bhatia, president of Dyett & Bhatia, Pacifica's consulting firm, said that economic development goals in Pacifica depend on the Quarry.
This series is meant to provide community, business and civic leaders in Pacifica an opportunity to share their hopes for the Quarry. Optimally, it will spark discussion about the topic and maybe even help develop a solution.
In the first installment of the Quarry Quandary, I interview Jim Heldberg, owner of Silicon Segway in Rockaway. He's kept an eye on the Quarry with the hope that it will be developed and, in turn, drive more shoppers to the area. Being that he has a financial interest in seeing something done with the land, he also has an opinion on what should become of it.
Watch the attached videos (there are two parts) to see what he has to say.
Also, if you have an opinion about what should be done with the Quarry, please contact me at camden@patch.com. I'd love to hear what you have to say and publish it in this column.
Chris Fogel
3:18 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
Regarding the process, not the merits of quarry development...
I'm increasingly of the view that there are so many different opinions held by citizens and agencies regarding "What we should do with the quarry?" that no matter what is on the table, a majority will oppose that suggestion at any given moment.
Bottom line: there are too many people and agencies with the power to say "no" to any project for one to stand a realistic chance of implementation.
Bhatman
3:40 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
I can think of nothing that better explains Pacifica's woes more then these videos. Thanks for posting them. A yacht harbor? Canoes? A University?
Camden Swita
4:01 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
I'm working on setting up my next Quarry Quandary interview. I'm thinking about an environmentalist angle...
Scotty
5:11 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
That will be illuminating. Nothing explains Pacifica's financial woes better than the opinions of the local environmentalists who have hijacked our only redevelopment area and driven the city towards bankruptcy.
Bhatman
5:49 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
"environmentalist have hijacked our only redevelopment area". Really? Look around you.... Pacifica is overflowing with empty commercial space, and development interest (the true hijackers of our public policy) can only conclude that the answer is... build even more! I read somewhere that the "Redevelopment Area" has already received around $8 Million in loans/bonds from the general fund, who going to repay that?
Real Estate interest want to build because that's how they make money, regardless of the impact on our city finances or quality of life. Hopefully Camden, you will interview reliable, knowledgeable people that have a grasp on the facts.
Camden Swita
5:50 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
Do you have suggestions for interviewees?
Scotty
6:06 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
I'd like our city to be able to offer the kind of services that its citizens require. If you would prefer not to develop the abandoned quarry that our city designated as a site for development and grants us much better tax income, what are your ideas for resolving our financial issues? Without the hysteria, if possible.
Jay Summers
7:40 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
"Much of Pacifica's future hinges on the Quarry, a huge piece of undeveloped, commercial-zoned property west of Highway 1 between the Rockaway Beach area and Vallemar."
No, not really.
The quarry is in a tsunami zone -- even Swaim Biological found that you could only legally build on a postage stamp size space at the quarry. Pacificans voted 3 times not to develop the quarry. There is a lot of commercial space available in town, including virtually all of Eureka Square.
Pacifica will be very well served should consistently money-losing Sharp Park be transferred to GGNRA. A new national park with a gateway to the Peninsula visitor center will bring millions in additional visitor spending dollars.
http://www.npca.org/pacific/economic_report/
Camden Swita
10:34 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
Dyett & Bhatia are banking on sizable development in the quarry according to option A in their proposed adjustments to the general plan. What's your take on the future of the Quarry, Jay? A park?
PKIV
6:24 am on Tuesday, February 8, 2011
A Park!
Erika Rigling
11:10 am on Sunday, March 13, 2011
How about a ball park.... minor league!!!!
Would accomodate flooding...
...or go back to the original idea of many years ago....a marina!
...or accomodate all those snakes and frogs from the golf course...and let the already developed golf course stay a commercial, visitor drawing, beautiful, privately irigated area....don't even think about tearing up the commercial area (golf course) that we already have.
Erika Rigling
11:12 am on Sunday, March 13, 2011
...or even consider it a historical site.... it IS the oldest commercial enterprise in this area!