Westwood parking controversy intensifies

Update: At the Thursday meeting, the Rancho Bernardo Planning Board opted in a 8-3 vote (with two members absent) to not approve the petition brought forward by members of the Westwood community after hearing from several members of the community. Instead, the board voted to bring the issue back in 90 days, to give all involved parties a chance to meet and try to work out a solution that will satisfy the concerns and needs of everyone impacted by the parking issue.

For the second time this month, a Rancho Bernardo community group decided to not make a recommendation on a resident-requested overnight parking restriction for part of Westwood.

Around three dozen residents on both sides of the issue filled Rancho Bernardo Community Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday night.

Since none of the committee members made a motion for a recommendation — Tom Lettington was recused from vote or comment since he lives in the impacted area and signed the petition — a meeting summary will be forwarded to the RB Community Council when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 23 in the RB Library, said committee Chairwoman Robin Kaufman.

The same result occurred last week when the Rancho Bernardo Planning Board’s Traffic and Transportation Committee — also chaired by Kaufman — met on June 7. Its summary will be presented this Thursday when the planning board meets at 7 p.m. in the RB Swim & Tennis Club.

The city has asked both community-elected groups plus the Westwood Club board to weigh in on the petition seeking a two-hour parking restriction between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on certain Westwood residential streets that for the last 10 years have been impacted by 100-plus vehicles each day and night due to overflow from the nearby Waterbridge condos. The city is requiring restriction support from 75 percent of the 122 homes in the impact zone and petition proponents have secured enough signatures. The restriction will also impact them.

Westwood Club Manager Steve Fluss said on Wednesday morning that the club’s board notified the city on Feb. 23 that if the petition requirement was met, it would support the parking restriction. He also said the board has been advised on various occasions — not just in connection with the Waterbridge issue — to not rent out its parking lot, as some have suggested as a possible place for the Waterbridge vehicles to go if the petition succeeds. Waterbridge is not part of the Westwood Club’s membership.

If eventually passed by the San Diego City Council, the restriction would impact Poblado Road (from Botero Drive to Capilla Road), Botero Drive, Poblado Court, Poblado Way, Oculto Road, Oculto Court, Oculto Way and Oculto Place.

Several residents — on both sides of the issue — got emotional when arguing their case, especially when it was stated — with some Waterbridge residents in agreement — that some Waterbridge residents rent out their parking spaces within the complex and then park their vehicles in front of Westwood homes.

Some Waterbridge residents said they are harassed by Westwood residents when they park in front of the homes and have had their vehicles vandalized. Some Westwood residents made similar allegations against Waterbridge residents, noting how some blatantly throw trash in their yards, destroy their property and have been seen using drugs or participating in sexual activity within vehicles.

Both sides noted it is not everyone in either group that is disrespectful, but all get tarnished.

Waterbridge HOA President Sonia Rodriguez said the Waterbridge residents were “just getting wind of this” and did not know which streets would be impacted despite newspaper and TV media coverage, discussions on social media and several community meetings over the past year.

“We want to be part of the solution as well,” she said, adding they have tried at least a couple times to add parking on-site, but cannot get sufficient support from the 368 unit owners.

Waterbridge resident Karen Parlin said a parking lot expansion would cost around $1 million.

Petition proponent Denis Grady read portions of a Rancho Bernardo News Journal article from 2006 in which Waterbridge representatives asked the community for more time in solving the problem and promised a solution would be implemented soon when Westwood residents first tried to get a parking restriction.

“Don’t look at us as the bad guys, look at your HOA and property management,” Grady said about Waterbridge’s problem that resulted from the developer’s deeding of spaces within the complex.

He said on a recent evening he counted 144 empty spaces in Waterbridge’s lot, while there was no room left in front of Westwood homes due to Waterbridge and Phil’s BBQ employee vehicles.

“The developer made the choice to sell spots ... and we heard (some in Waterbridge) rent out their spaces and then park in ours,” Grady said. “People are making money hand over fist and expect us to deal with it.”

Susan Van Winkle, president of the Westwood Townhomes 1 HOA with 87 townhomes on Poblado Road in an area just past the restriction zone, said if the restriction is passed the Waterbridge vehicles will move to their area.

“The water will flow right into our section and there will be parking on our streets and (those adjacent),” she said.

“Nobody contacted us or asked for our opinion,” Van Winkle said. “I’m sure there is some other solution that can be found if we work together. Waterbridge not having enough parking is due to no fault of its residents and owners. ... This is not the right solution to the problem.”

“Parking isn’t something that should tear us apart,” said Ron Tranbarger, a Waterbridge resident for three years.

Paul Laird, a Waterbridge resident for more than 11 years who served eight years on its HOA board, including six as president, said “we are a peaceful people” when talking about Waterbridge residents. “We should be accommodated, (but if this passes) you will be giving way to a vocal minority who have made our lives miserable. This is a situation we cannot control that we inherited from our developer.”

While Waterbridge residents said they cannot have guests over due to the parking situation, Westwood residents said they cannot either because there is no parking near their homes.

“On the day I moved in, I saw a Waterbridge person throw all his garbage in front of my home and then he flipped me off,” said Westwood resident Julie Easter. “There have been situations, this is not all one sided. A number of them have harassed me when parking in front (of my house). ... My guests cannot park in front of my house.”

Eric Weller, a Capilla Road resident not yet impacted by the problem, said even though the Waterbridge vehicles will likely move in front of his home, he supports the petition advocates.

“This problem was caused by Waterbridge (developers),” Weller said. “I’m sorry, it’s not (Waterbridge residents’) fault. ... But we have a problem and this is the only way (Westwood residents) can figure to solve it with the city’s restrictions.

“I don’t like it, but (petition advocates) have to do something,” Weller said. “They’re going to do what they need to do and I don’t blame them.”

Grady promised those outside the restriction’s proposed boundaries that if the Waterbridge vehicles move onto their streets, the petition proponents will help them with a similar petition drive in order to eliminate the problem.

Brian Kuck, a Westwood resident since 2002 who said the restriction will impact his family’s five vehicles yet he still supports it, said Westwood used to be “a lovely neighborhood, but it is not anymore because it is packed with cars every night.”

“I feel truly bad for them, but enough is enough,” said Westwood resident Brian Grimes. “This makes our neighborhood a haven for crime and when there is a real emergency, there is nowhere (for emergency vehicles).” He described how some streets were closed recently when there was no space for paramedics by the curb.