The city of San Diego has issued three notices of violation against a home development project in La Jolla, alleging that work is being done without all the necessary permits. The developer has appealed, but some surrounding residents are hoping for something more severe from the city.

The project at 6012 La Jolla Mesa Drive has been ordered to cease until the permits are issued.

According to nearby residents, the work has been disruptive and needs more scrutiny.

“There has been heavy construction but there have been no measures to decrease erosion, and if it rains, a massive amount of dirt would get into our drainage system,” said neighbor Robert Gish. “There is also a constant cloud of dirt covering my house and others’ because the [construction team] has done nothing to abate the dirt and dust.”

He added concerns about the work crossing over utility easements and the impact that could have on access to those utilities.

Work at 6012 La Jolla Mesa Drive has triggered three notices of violation from the city of San Diego. (Robert Gish)

According to a statement from Nick Brunner of Plumtree & Brunner LLP, the legal representative for developer Israel Dahan, there is only one active citation, which my client disputes and which my client has appealed. Any other citations have been closed because they arise out of duplicate complaints by the same person.

The citation is not effective because it is currently pending appeal, Brunner added.

He did not immediately elaborate.

Dahan also is the developer behind a controversial home project on West Muirlands Drive that was subject to a construction violation notice and a stop-work order in 2021.

This summer, San Diego Building and Land Use Enforcement, or BLUE, inspected the La Jolla Mesa Drive site and observed “ongoing landscaping work resulting in exposed slopes and pads, which require proper stormwater control measures. The site lacked proper BMPs [best management practices], so an administrative citation warning was issued on Sept. 6 requiring BMPs to be installed,” according to city spokesman Richard Berg.

Later that month, BLUE staff performed a compliance inspection but found it inadequate, Berg said. Thus, a $500 citation was issued.

“Staff also included unpermitted right-of-way encroachments [in the list of violations], including fencing and construction materials,” Berg said. “Extensive unpermitted alterations and partial demolition to the existing dwelling unit began in October, and on Oct. 29, staff issued a $1,000 administrative citation to the property owner for the unpermitted work, as well as inadequate BMPs.”

After the second citation, a building permit application was submitted for a remodel and an addition to the existing one-story, single-family residence, along with a proposed new guesthouse.

“The building permit application is still in the prescreen and setup phase,” Berg said. “Any work that requires a permit is not authorized to be performed until the permit is issued.”

But Gish isnt convinced enough is being done.

“The city either has no resources or no tools to stop this behavior, and that is a citywide issue — people can build in an uncontrolled fashion and only face fines,” Gish said. “I cant tell if the city can have any impact on those that break the law.

Its about safety for those that have neighboring properties, and [it] sets a poor standard for us to have these behaviors. This is a cry for help from the community.”