Pacific Beach Planning Group is expected to discuss the proposed controversial Vela 22-story building project dubbed the “pencil tower” at its next meeting on Nov. 13.

The planning group meeting will be held at the Earl & Birdie Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St., starting at 6:30 p.m.

PB Planning Group chair Marcella Bothwell said the group has numerous questions about the Vela high-rise project, which is one of two recently proposed in PB exceeding the 30-foot coastal height limit in effect since Prop. D passed in 1972.

The other project, which would be 50 feet tall, is where Wasabi Sushi used to be at 2662 Garnet Ave. next to Rose Creek off Interstate 5.

On Oct. 9, at a rally outside PB library before a PBPG meeting, a group of about 200 coastal residents protested both projects contending the 30-foot coastal height limit is not only being ignored by local government but no longer exists.

“While the planning group has not taken an official position on Vela, this project has many problems,” noted Bothwell. She added those problems include:

– 5% affordable housing in a luxury condo building with nine floors of hotel space;

– 292 cars for a street that is already over 400% of its traffic capacity causing safety issues to motorists, bikers, scooters, and pedestrians;

– Overburdening an old water and sewer system that already has water pressure complaints from neighbors.

Moreover, Bothwell noted that Vela “unbelievably overrides California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review,” which she pointed out requires that “small-home developments need to prove they don’t need CEQA including seismic review. State laws are now overriding City municipal code due to AB 1287 specifically.”

Concluded Bothwell: “We (PBPG) are not against affordable housing and have approved multiple projects in recent years with affordable housing. But each was reviewed according to its merits, and fit into the neighborhood.”

– 970 Turquoise: Vela, 22-story building. The proposed, privately funded high-rise project is at the north corner of Cass and Turquoise, where the German Motors garage, Freddy’s Liquor store, and the French Gourmet are located. A 22-story building project is proposed on four lots with a height of 250 feet with a hotel accommodating 139 visitors on nine floors. The project envisions 74 housing units with 10 units (five low-income and five moderate-income).