The Process
On May 27, 1997, Hans Newman and Melinda Merryweather formed a group of concerned citizens called Friends of Windansea (“Friends”). Friends was formed to preserve, restore and enhance the natural character and beauty of the Windansea Beach area. The goal of the group was to solicit and encourage maximum citizen participation in order to create a consensus plan for the area.
The purpose of the plan is to guide the ongoing maintenance and capital improvement projects of the City of San Diego.
After notifying the public in the regional and local area papers, approximately 80 people participated in a daylong workshop at the La Jolla Recreation Center. The workshop, facilitated by Landscape Architect Jim Neri, started with presentations from experts in coastal erosion and biological resources.
- Rick Thompson – Torrey Pines State Park Ranger
- Craig Reiser – Merkel and Associates Biologists
After a brief education by experts the entire group went to the Windansea area. They were supplied with a workbook to objectively help them note the problems and potentials of the Windansea area. Lets include the workbook as an appendix
The participants returned to the Recreation Center and split up into 10 tables to draw and/or write on an 8-foot site plan their impressions of what they considered best for the Windansea area. Each table them presented their ideas and concerns to the entire group and Jim Neri noted the consensus items with assistance from Architect Matthew Welsh.
Friends then consolidated the ideas into the Erosion and Shoreline Maintenance Plan for the Windansea Area. After additional notification to the public in three newspapers and the La Town Council Newsletter this plan was placed on display at the La Jolla Library for 30 days to solicit more input from the community. Approximately 86 people left comments on the plan.
Additional input was solicited from the Windansea Surf Club, Community Planning Association and the Parks and Beaches Committee of the La Jolla Town Council.
The result of several meetings held by Friends to consolidate the input from the community is the plan you now have in your hands.
Friends is seeking endorsement of the plan from representative community groups in order to receive approval from the City of San Diego to use this document and drawings as a Master Plan to guide the future of the Windansea Area.
Friends of Windansea requests your support and endorsement of these recommendations so that we may all preserve, restore and enhance the natural character and beauty of the Windansea Beach area.
Sincerely,
Friends of Windansea Steering Committee
Louis Beacham
Rosina Beaver
Melinda Merryweather.
Hans Newman
Richard Smith
Matthew Welsh.
Other Participants
Carl Lind
Martin Mosier
John Mraz
Hope Owens
Mike Nicholes
1998 Flyer of Friends of Windansea
