San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders is taking a hard stance to make sure Sunroad Enterprises sticks to its promise. The company recently agreed to lower its Kearny Mesa office tower by 20 feet to meet FAA safety standards. We have two reports on this story. First, KPBS reporter Nicole Lozare tells us about the pressure from City Hall.
City Attorney Michael Aguirre and Mayor Sanders are threatening legal action to make sure Sunroad Enterprises keeps its word.
The city officials are holding the company to a quick timeline in lowering its Kearny Mesa building. Sunroad attorneys say they are already drawing up the timeline to what will be an engineering nightmare. The company conceded on Tuesday to lower its building by 20 feet to abide by FAA standards. But they do so in protest.
Company officials say they will issue a timeline on July 10. But they already know that the city's deadline of August 25th to lower the building will be impossible to meet.
Sanders says he is ready to take legal action and force Sunroad's hand if the company does not comply.
Sanders: We want to see some progress immediately. I don't want to see equivocations. I want to see progress. I want to see a timeline. I want to see time frames. I want to see markers so that we can do that. I think what Mr. Aguirre said is that progress is being made with Sunroad right now. The fact that they are looking at a mediator to help that progress be much more clear, and much more quick. I think is a good one. I stand prepared to issue any of the orders.
Sunroad officials insist the city issued them a full permit to build. Sunroad attorneys say that just because they agreed to lower the building does not mean they will shy away from seeking damages in court from the city.
For now, it's a battle between the city and Sunroad, says Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor. He says the FAA has no enforcement authority in this matter.
Gregor: We have no direct authority over local planning matters. The FAA's goal has always been to eliminate the hazard that Sunroad created but because we have no direct authority over local planning matters we can't dictate how that should be done.}
Sunroad says it does not violate any safety standard. They say this was, and continues to be a political issue.
Nicole Lozare, KPBS News.
