Del Mar
Approval of a 243-room hotel proposed for an 8.5-acre site near the Del Mar Fairgrounds was rescinded Monday night by the City Council by a 3-1 vote.
The council had agreed to back the Pelican Properties hotel proposal at the upcoming meeting of the state Coastal Commission this week but changed its position to neutral Monday night after Councilman Scott Barnett questioned whether the city should be taking a stand on a project outside its boundaries.
The project is planned for a site near the southwest corner of Via de la Valle and Interstate 5, now the site of a recreational vehicle park.
Joseph Lang, a Del Mar resident, spoke in opposition to the project, pointing out that the land lies in the San Dieguito River flood plain and would be inundated if a major flood occurred.
Councilmen Barnett, Lew Hopkins and Jim Tetrault voted to maintain a neutral position on the project. Only Mayor Arlene Carsten voted against the motion.
In an earlier vote backing the hotel, Carsten pointed out that property owner Dorothy Doan had pledged to work to bring the land into the city of Del Mar if the project won approval. The property now is in the city of San Diego.
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