The La Jolla Community Planning Association joined the chorus of community concern as it received an update on efforts to fight a high-rise project planned for Pacific Beach, near La Jolla’s southern border.

While the board took no action during its Nov. 7 meeting, trustees and members of the audience voiced many of the same worries that have been shared about the 239-foot, 22-story housing and commercial development since a permit application for it was filed with the city of San Diego on Aug. 20.

Several La Jolla residents have expressed fear that such a project could come to their neighborhood as well.

The $185 million development proposed for 970 Turquoise St. in north Pacific Beach was filed by Kalonymus LLC with the San Diego Development Services Department. It would feature 213 residential units, 10 of them designated for very-low- to middle-income families, above ground-floor shops.

A large portion of the project — 139 units — is described as visitor accommodations, though developers plan to use the units as market-rate apartments. The plan also includes 311 parking spaces.

The developers say the project would “truly move the needle” in addressing San Diego’s need for increased housing.

“The project team has been working with experts for quite some time to craft a building that complies with all applicable housing laws,” Matt Awbrey, a spokesman for Kalonymus, said last month. “This is a locally designed project that’s backed by people who believe in San Diego and want to create the new generation of homes that our city needs.”

But the proposal is sending shock waves through San Diego beach communities because it would far exceed the citys 30-foot limit on new building heights in coastal areas that has stood for 52 years.

Pacific Beach Planning Group Chairwoman Marcella Bothwell presented to LJCPA about the project, calling it “our representation” of the proposal because exact renderings were unavailable.

She cited concerns with the overall size of the building, which area residents have taken to calling the Turquoise Tower.

It really does look like a middle finger,” Bothwell said.

This is the site slated to become a 22-story mixed-use development at 970 Turquoise St. in Pacific Beach. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

She also questioned whether laws and regulations are being applied correctly.

In 1972, San Diego voters approved Proposition D to restrict the height of new buildings west of Interstate 5 to 30 feet. The law includes carve-outs for downtown, National City and parts of Mission Bay.

The Turquoise Street project, which currently is being reviewed by Development Services, would bypass that through a state density bonus law that supersedes local voter initiatives and planning rules. The law allows developers to add to their buildings for offering certain quantities of housing considered affordable for lower-income residents.

A recent bill from state Assemblyman David Alvarez (D-San Diego) offers additional incentives for developers building affordable units.

The Turquoise development would compound several density bonuses in order to surpass the coastal height limit.

The decision on whether to approve the project ultimately lies with the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

Bothwell said she has corresponded with local leaders, some of whom have stated they oppose or are concerned about the project.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and City Councilman Joe LaCava, whose District 1 includes La Jolla and Pacific Beach, opposed the project in a joint letter Oct. 8, writing that “we must not allow pro-housing policies to be usurped for purposes that do not meet a public benefit or respond to the state’s housing affordability crisis.”

Some residents have urged LaCava and Gloria to take legal action to try to stop the development.

“The problem is, Bothwell said, who do you sue when the law is against you? We have to consider changing state law or an initiative, but our main goal is to get this thing taken down. … There is a lot of framing of the argument for us to sound reasonable that we have to do.”

Aurora Livingston, representing state Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas), whose 38th District includes La Jolla and Pacific Beach, told the board that the senator is “very concerned and in opposition [to] this very unreasonable project that was proposed under the guise of adding affordable housing using state density bonus law. The intent of this law is to create affordable housing, and that is not what this project does.”

Others attending the meeting called the project a “Pandora’s box” that, if built, would be followed by similar developments in La Jolla.

“This is a San Diego issue, this isn’t a coastal issue,” said La Jolla resident Janie Emerson. “This is an issue for our entire community … because once it gets started, we aren’t going to be able to stop it.”

Looking to slow the momentum of the Turquoise proposal, Bothwell said she is looking for “fundamental arguments to make against the project” to file with local leaders. She welcomed those with concerns to contact her through neighborsforabettercalifornia.org.

After the meeting, local Realtor Barbara Leinenweber said the effect on La Jolla homes could be severe.

“All of the homes in southern La Jolla are going to be impacted,” she said. “All the homes in the flats of Pacific Beach are going to be in the shadow of this project. How would I, as a Realtor, disclose that this proposed building will at some point be right in your view?”

If the project goes through, she said, “it could happen in other areas of La Jolla” and “we may end up as the next Miami. That’s a major concern. This could get very out of hand.”

Other LJCPA news

Home project: One item was pulled from the boards eight-item consent agenda for a full presentation at a future meeting. Consent items typically are approved as a slate without discussion.

The project that will be heard later would demolish a one-story, 2,217-square-foot single-family residence at 8081 Calle del Cielo and build a two-story single-family residence over a basement for a total of 12,929 square feet with six parking spaces.

The plan was approved by the La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee in October.

Election committee: LJCPA formed an election committee to find members to run for the board during its annual election next year. Six seats will be up for grabs.

LJCPA President Harry Bubbins said candidates will be asked to speak in February and the election will take place in March.

Current LJCPA members can review eligibility requirements at lajollacpa.org.

Next meeting: The La Jolla Community Planning Association next meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. The agenda will be posted 72 hours in advance at lajollacpa.org.