Community buzz about the newly formed Hillcrest Town Council (HTC) has many keeping a watchful eye on this burgeoning new neighborhood association, as well as its “no growth” position on future development in Hillcrest.

According to e-mails circulating from an HTC organizer, Andrew Towne, new growth and development contradict the association’s mission statement, which is “to provide a voice and enhance the quality of life for Hillcrest renters and homeowners and to support actions that benefit our neighborhood.”

“The quality of life of Hillcrest residents is not enhanced by the kind of growth that has been taking place in Hillcrest, and that will continue to take place until we take a strong position against growth,” Towne writes. “We must take that position, not because we think it will stop all growth (we don’t have that much power), but because it will give us our best bargaining position.”

But not all HTC members support a “no growth” policy. Don Skolnik, Development Committee member, for example, strongly opposes the policy statement recently passed by the committee, calling it “almost a no-change measure.”

“I happen to live in a row house that was built about five years ago, and I love it. I love this style of housing, and I love cities. Under [Towne’s] policy, my row house would have never been built,” Skolnik said. “In fact, under [Towne’s] policy, practically none of the housing that has been added to Hillcrest under the current zoning would have been built. This would drive up the price of the existing housing stock even more than it has gone up, and it would encourage more sprawl on the suburban and ex-urban periphery. It is a fundamentally anti-green, exclusionary policy. It is a policy that says, in effect, ‘We have ours… now the rest of you be damned.’”

Debate has been waging since the hotly contested 301 University condo project was passed with a 7-1 vote by the San Diego City Council in September 2006. Councilmember Toni Atkins, who made the motion to approve the 12-story project on Third and University avenues in downtown Hillcrest, saw her popularity take a hit due to her support of the project – despite the 121-space parking garage it included, which she believed to be a “huge community benefit.” And with developers eyeing Hillcrest for future large-scale commercial and residential projects, the development debate is likely to continue well into the future.

The HTC is an example of grassroots democracy at its best. Neighborhood associations give residents a forum to discuss community issues, get acquainted with fellow neighbors, and to lobby elected officials on policy. Lively debate is expected and is a healthy part of any organization with competing interests.

Several good questions have been raised: Is growth inevitable and what is the meaning of smart growth?

Towne writes in his e-mail, “Growth is only inevitable if we permit it.”

We disagree. Growth is inevitable (and not just because we support it). Not every project is a 301 University. We can still grow and maintain the village-like feel; however, organizations like the HTC are critical to ensure growth neither happens too fast nor out of character with the community.

We do agree with Towne’s sentiments on smart growth, however: “Folks, we have been getting ‘smart growth’ (the San Diego version); that is the whole problem!”

The question Hillcrest residents should be asking is whether the current membership of the HTC is representative of the Hillcrest community. And if not, why? If our voices are not being represented, then we have a responsibility to show up and be heard. Everyone is invited to the meetings and all Hillcrest residents have a vote.

The next Hillcrest Town Council meeting will take place Tuesday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Joyce Beers Community Center. Here’s your chance to join the discussion.

If you would like to respond to this week’s editorial, e-mail us at editor@uptownpub.com or send letters to P.O. Box 34624, San Diego, CA 92163. Please include your full name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only your name will be published. Letters must be 500 words or less.

The Gay & Lesbian Times publishes all letters to the editor unedited. Letters received that do not contain subject matter in reference to the publication will be published at the discretion of the Gay & Lesbian Times. In the event that we receive more letters than space allows, all overflow will be posted on our Web site, www.gaylesbiantimes.com.