San Diego invites residents to share opinions on housing policy reforms

Mayor Gloria’s second housing action package aims to produce more homes that afford SAN DIEGO – To continue creating opportunities to build more homes for all San Diegans, the City of San Diego is inviting residents to participate in several workshops in February and March to discuss nearly a dozen housing policy reforms.

Mayor Todd Gloria’s second Housing Action Package under his Homes for All of Us initiative outlines 11 potential amendments and updates to encourage the construction of more new homes near transit, with safe and enjoyable walking, rolling and biking options.

Housing Action Package 2.0 also aims to create anti-displacement measures that will protect current residents, increase the supply of land available for the development of new homes, and incentivize and promote new housing opportunities in all communities and all income levels.

“I am excited to begin public engagement opportunities for my second Housing Action Package,” said Mayor Gloria. “The City Council approved my first Housing Action Package last year, aimed at building more homes for individuals and families of all income levels. But the housing affordability crisis is far from over and we have a lot of work to do to ensure San Diegans of all income levels can afford to put a roof over their heads. I look forward to building on our progress and spurring

Diegans and the workshops on the City’s Housing Action Package 2.0 webpage. Feedback can also be shared by email to planning@ sandiego.gov or by mail to the City of San Diego Planning Department, 9485 Aero Drive, M.S. 413, San Diego, CA 92123. home construction near transit, protecting existing residents, incentivizing student housing and so much more.”

Public workshops will be held via Zoom on Feb. 21 and 23, and in person on March 2 at the Mission Valley Library and March 13 at the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library. All San Diego residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

During the workshops, which will be held in both English and Spanish, staff from the city’s Planning Department will provide details about Housing Action Package 2.0, and attendees will have a chance to ask questions and offer feedback. San Diegans can learn more about the initiative

“San Diego residents continue to face barriers to housing, and no matter your income, background or age, everyone deserves to have access to affordable housing and a place they can call home,” said Planning Director Heidi Vonblum. “We are already seeing a positive impact with the first Housing Action Package that City Council passed last year, but we have more work to do. We look forward to collaborating with San Diegans on these proposals to ensure we are taking the best actions to provide more homes in all communities with safe and enjoyable options for walking, rolling, biking and transit.”

The proposal is anticipated to be considered this spring by the Planning Commission, the City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee and, ultimately, the full City Council. San Diegans are welcome and encouraged to continue providing their input throughout the hearing process.

The City Council passed Mayor Gloria’s first Housing Action Package in February 2022.

(City of San Diego Release) n

City creates more opportunities for new home construction

Sustainable development areas will redefine geographic boundaries for some local housing incentive programs

SAN DIEGO – On Tuesday, February 14 the San Diego City Council adopted updates to the city’s development regulations, including an update to the definition that determines the geographical boundaries for certain home construction incentive programs. The move will increase the amount of developable land near major public transit stops.

Every year city staff updates the Land Development Code to keep up with the everchanging needs of the city’s development regulations. These draft updates include clarifications, corrections, regulatory reforms and changes to the regulations to bring the city into compliance with state law and advance the City’s housing and climate goals.

Among this year’s 78 adopted items is a new definition for Sustainable Development Area, which is replacing the city’s definition of Transit Priority Area. Properties within these areas are eligible for the City’s local incentive programs like the Complete Communities Housing Solutions program and the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) density bonus program to help build more homes near transit.

Transit Priority Areas allowed for incentive programs to be used within a half-mile radius of an existing or planned major public transit stop. The distance was measured as the crow flies, or in a straight line, so barriers to accessing transit, like canyons and freeways, which may have realistically made access to transit miles away, were not considered.

The new Sustainable Development Area definition removes the “as the crow flies” distance and instead allows local incentive programs to be used if the development is accessible to a major public transit stop up to a 1-mile walk. The change increases the potential developable areas by more than 5,200 acres while also removing other areas that would otherwise be less accessible to public transit.

“The new definition of Sustainable Development Area aligns development with the city’s Climate Action Plan goals to expand housing near transit so more people can bike, walk, roll or take transit to their work, home, shopping and other places of enjoyment within their community,” said Planning Director Heidi Vonblum. “At the same time, it furthers fair and affordable housing opportunities in our city that desperately needs it.”

The city will still use the State of California’s definition of Transit Priority Areas for other state-mandated incentive programs. Developers will continue to be able to use the local incentive programs under the city’s definition of a Transit Priority Area for a full year after the latest Land Development Code Update takes effect.

(City of San Diego Release) n