I just read the completely lopsided story of the general plan workshops as told by Mike Andreen ("City starts new effort to update future housing plan," April 18).
What actually happened was that community groups in Encinitas (Olivenhain, Old Encinitas, Cardiff, Leucadia and yes, New Encinitas) tried very hard to engage our community to be part of the workshops. I am sorry if the business community felt left out. Funny, I saw quite a few local developers at the meetings, who now say they didn't know what was going on.
I was an alternate on the General Plan Advisory Committee for a while, and felt that there was an effort by the community to resolve the problem of over-density in certain neighborhoods in Encinitas. Frankly, I think the density should be spread throughout the city, and that was what was happening. As people in New Encinitas found out there is no middle ground with developers, instead of some nice mixed use being planned there, it turned into overkill.
A compromise could have been worked out. I am not completely sure what Mike Andreen is taking credit for, except taking away the power from the community and giving it to the developers. Instead of compromise, we will get what developers want. Pay attention, Encinitas.
Rachelle Collier
Leucadia
