Yep, Councilman Scott Sherman said too much on a proposed senior housing project that was set to come before the City Council.
Sherman recused himself from Tuesday’s vote on the development.
He had previously told members of the Allied Gardens Community Council that he was likely to support the project.
Earlier, we explained why council members tend not to voice opinions on land-use related decisions.
The project ultimately passed on a 5-2 vote without Sherman. Council members Sherri Lightner and Marti Emerald voted no.
The Village at Zion, a 60-unit senior affordable housing project, needed council approval because the 1.2 acre lot on Zion Avenue was only zoned for single-family building, thus requiring an amendment to the existing community plan.
Sherman addressed the issue in brief remarks before discussion on the item began, then excused himself from the dais.
“When people ask me direct questions, I have a tendency to give direct answers. Some may have misinterpreted what I said in that meeting,” he said. “I believe I can be impartial on this. However, in the abundance of caution and understanding that perception is sometimes worse than reality, I’m gonna take this time to recuse myself on the affordable senior housing project.”
Sherman’s decision followed advice from the city attorney’s office late Friday that bowing out from the vote was “the most cautions course of action,” according to the legal memo.
Mayor Bob Filner also voiced his opposition to the project at a rally this weekend. Since the mayor has no role in approving the plan, announcing his opposition doesn’t run afoul of fair hearing regulations.
I’m Andrew Keatts, a reporter for Voice of San Diego. Please contact me if you’d like at andrew.keatts@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.325.0529 and follow me on Twitter:
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