Bartick brings legal expertise to planning board

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series profiling Carmel Valley Community Planning Board members

David Bartick will tell you he’s just an average resident speaking for his neighborhood on the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board.

The truth is he represents one of two legal minds on the board, providing a wealth of knowledge about the community as a 20-year Carmel Valley resident.

The planning board’s newest board member, Bartick has occupied a seat on the 15-person board since May when longtime Neighborhood Four representative Patti Abramson left the board. Bartick was the only candidate.

“Fortunately my campaign balance was zero,” he said.

Bartick said he has always been interested in local community activism, but within the last year his interest peaked when his neighborhood Santa Fe Summit saw an increase in residential burglaries.

As a board member he’s interested in crime issues as well as future developments.

“I see Carmel Valley as a community that’s going through growing pains,” Bartick said. “I’m a big advocate of managed growth in a community and I want to do whatever I can to assist Carmel Valley grow in a manageable manner.”

20-year resident

Bartick, a California native, was raised in Orange County. After attending UC Berkeley for his undergraduate degree, Bartick came to San Diego to attend law school at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he got his law degree in 1985.

A father of two, his daughter graduated from Torrey Pines last year and now attends Purdue University and his son is currently a junior at the high school.

Bartick has been a criminal defense attorney for 21 years, litigating cases such as the largest international money-laundering case in the country and the first ever death penalty case in San Diego.

The view from the 19th floor of his downtown office includes the bay and if one leans over a bit, you can spot Petco Park.

Bartick has seen the community go through a lot of change. When he first moved here in 1988, there was only one local shopping center - Flower Hill off Via de la Valle.

“When the Souplantation opened up, you’d go there and know everybody in the restaurant,” Bartick said.

The new Northwestern Division police station has been the best addition to Carmel Valley, according to Bartick. Now that the division is in town, he said he’s been very impressed with how Capt. Kathy Healey and crew have taken their responsibilities seriously and really listened to the community.

Board business

Being a part of the planning board has given Bartick a better appreciation of how things get accomplished in the city (including the red tape). He said he’s amazed with the patience of applicants who come before the board again and again with their projects.

Often those repeat customers are a result of the carefully crafted suggestions made to applicants regarding their projects.

“I’ve been surprised with the impact and influence that our board has, how receptive both applicants and the city are to our suggestions,” Bartick said. “This is a planning board that does have the respect of the city.”

Also, Bartick said he’s impressed by the expertise of his fellow board members.

“The community is very fortunate to have Frisco White as a chairperson because he’s extremely knowledgeable in community issues,” Bartick said.

Humbly, Bartick said he simply brings a layperson’s perspective to the table but White said it’s much more than that.

“I think his contribution is his excitement to be a part of the community and be involved with projects,” White said. “Because he’s an attorney he can give a legalistic opinion of the items before us.”

The Carmel Valley Community Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the Carmel Valley Library.

Fast Facts

Name:

David Bartick

Age:

50

Occupation:

Criminal defense attorney

Role on planning board: Represents Neighborhood Four, which includes homes east of Carmel Canyon, west of Pacific Highlands Ranch and north of Highway 56.

Family:

Along with his wife and two children, Bartick has lived in Carmel Valley for 20 years.