Parking

The proposed Chabad complex would draw large numbers of members and visitors and create a major parking problem - as well as a traffic nightmare. As indicated in red on the map below, most of the streets around the site are posted "no parking."

In their original application for a building permit, Chabad of La Jolla designated spaces for 32 cars in the underground garage. At the request of the City of San Diego, this number was changed to 37 on a revised application. This amount of parking is still not adequate, considering that the 96-seat sanctuary is open to a large social hall where 300 participants could be accommodated and the fact that the Chabad Center would be a multi-purpose facility where various activities would likely take place simultaneously. For a list of programs regularly hosted by Chabad of La Jolla, see "Programs and Services" at www.ChabadofLaJolla.com.

According to the La Jolla Shores Planned District Ordinance, Paragraph 1510.0401 (e) "The off-street parking requirements for two or more uses on the same premises shall be the sum of the requirements for each use computed separately."

The San Diego General Regulation for the entire city, Paragraph 142.0560 (a) (2) (A) states: "For mixed uses on the same premises, the required parking spaces shall be...the sum of the requirements for each individual use computed separately."

Therefore, the actual number of required spaces is at least 107. See calculation below:

office                 1 space
residence         4 spaces
pre-school        3 spaces
sanctuary        32 spaces
library                1 space
social hall       66 spaces
                      107 spaces

To date, the City of San Diego's Development Services staff have not applied this law to the Chabad project, instead choosing to accept the applicant's verbal promise that they will never use the facility for multiple purposes at the same time. The amount of off-street parking currently on Chabad's plan is only one-third of what is actually required, given the potential occupancy capability of the complex. 
   
In addition to regular activities, the Chabad Center would be used for celebrations and events throughout the week - night and day - that could draw attendance from the greater San Diego community. Cars parked off-site would exacerbate existing traffic safety issues in the area.