The San Diego Planning Commission unanimously approved plans April 13 for a proposed 12-story, mixed-use condominium complex to be built on University Avenue, despite community advisory group Uptown Planners voting against it.

The project now heads to the City Council on July 18.

La Jolla Pacific Development’s branch Up, Inc., a developer of urban condos in Hillcrest, plans to construct the complex with 96 one- to three-bedroom condominiums at 301 University Ave.

Approximately 10,250 square feet of retail space would be located on the ground level. The $65 million project would also contain a 1,300 square-foot gym, a public terrace, three levels of aboveground residential parking and 121 underground public parking spaces on two levels.

Up, Inc. said the mixed-use project is a prime example of the pedestrian-oriented smart-growth development outlined in San Diego’s Urban Villages plan, and said it is consistent with the applicable guidelines of the Uptown Community Plan.

The building will compliment the existing urban architecture of Hillcrest’s commercial core and the streetscape will incorporate a “village feel” by widening the sidewalk to 14-feet and installing new landscaping, Up, Inc. said.

On Sept. 6, 2005, the Uptown Planners board voted 6-4 against 301 University. On April 4, the board voted 8-2 to restate their motion.

Uptown Planners is one of more than 40 recognized community planning groups in San Diego and represents the neighborhoods of Bankers Hill/Park West, Middletown, Mission Hills, Hillcrest, University Heights (west of Park Boulevard) and Marston Hills.

Uptown Planners board chair Leo Wilson said the board is concerned with 301 University’s proposed height of 148 feet.

“The major concern was the height and the mass,” he said. “On the one hand you have those who look at the height and mass, saying it’s not compatible, particularly with a very narrow street. Then you have the others, who [say] one of the benefits that was put into this was 121 parking spaces.”

Wilson said he initially got involved as a Hillcrest resident when the project was first proposed and he, along with other residents, negotiated with developers to reduce the building’s original height of 176 feet down to its present height of 148 feet.

La Jolla Pacific Development president Bruce Leidenberger said the original proposal called for a 14-story, 51 mixed-use condominium project, but was scaled down due to the concern over its exterior design and height. Most of the buildings in the area range from one to three stories, but the height limit in Hillcrest is 200 feet.

“People thought there was a lot of glass and steel in that design, so we completely redesigned it,” he said.

Leidenberger said adding the parcel of land on the corner of Fourth and University avenues – where Bamboo Bistro, Subway and Sambuca currently reside – enabled Up, Inc. to work closely with Uptown Partnership, Inc., a nonprofit that manages San Diego’s Community Parking District Program in the Uptown neighborhood.

“With the larger parcel we were able to get a more efficient parking layout, so we were able to add two levels of underground parking for the public,” Leidenberger said.

Uptown Partnership, Inc. executive director Carol Schultz said her board has stated its support of 301 University primarily because it adds a significant amount of parking.

“That is over and above the amount of parking that would go along with the retail that’s being constructed and the residential that’s being constructed…,” she said. “It is simply going to be a benefit to the community, so by and large [the board] express their support.”

The new design would eliminate the alleyway between Third and Fourth avenues and instead put a pedestrian passageway there with retail shops at the front side of it facing the street with café-type seating, Leidenberger said.

Hillcrest Business Association president Bob Grinchuk said the organization supports the parking element at 301 University but has taken no position on the building itself.

“The decision was that land-use matters should go to Uptown Planners, so it took no position on the tower,” he said.

Leidenberger said the City Council will be voting to approve the site development permit, which would approve the design of the building, the tentative map and the elimination of the alley. If approved by City Council, he said, working drawings would need to be completed with San Diego Building Inspection Department approval.

Leidenberger anticipates an April 2007 construction start date if everything gets approved on time. He said they are looking at a few construction techniques that would accelerate construction completion, but estimates 301 University would take two years to complete with standard construction techniques.

Hillcrest resident George Wedemeyer said he is opposed to the 301 University project and is currently collecting signatures for a petition he and others will present to the City Council during their meeting on July 18.

“This will be the tallest building for years,” he said. “It overshadows everything. It [will] cast shadows on businesses and housing in the area.”

Wedemeyer said he does not believe the 121 paid parking spaces will benefit Hillcrest.

“What happens in this city is people want free parking. They don’t want to pay for it. Naturally, there isn’t enough free parking, but people will come in, drive blocks away to try and find free parking, or leave the area if they can’t find it,” he said. “We’re not at a critical state for parking in this area. Not that we don’t always need it, and eventually we’re going to have to do more with it…. This is just a group [Uptown Partnership, Inc.] that works with the developers that just overstates everything about the parking.”

Wilson said Uptown Planners recently voted 12-2 in June to support an interim 65-foot height limitation in the Uptown district due to fears of additional taller buildings being constructed in Hillcrest’s core.

“Some of the statements that were made at the Planning Commission hearing on this project were that this whole community could be developed like that,” Wilson said.

Hamburger Mary’s owner Chris Shaw, whose restaurant resides across the street from 301 University, said he’s taking a neutral stance on the project.

“The only thing is this is just a really tall building around a four-story building. It’s just going to be a huge building,” he said. “But [the developers] are being very community-oriented and they are providing parking for the community, which is something Hillcrest really, really needs. So I’m really not for it or against it.”

Dale Kelley Bankhead, communications director for District 3 Councilmember Toni Atkins, whose district includes Hillcrest, said Atkins has heard from a number of community members about the project’s pros and cons.

“Those who have expressed concerns about the project have cited its height, bulk and its potential impact on traffic, and those will be important considerations that [Atkins] will weigh when she makes her decision next week,” Bankhead said.

The City Council will vote on 301 University on Tuesday, July 18, at 2:00 p.m. at 202 C St., 12th floor.