San Diego To Consider Upzoning in College Area

San Diego residents are raising concerns about potential zoning reforms aimed at increasing density and housing construction in the College Area neighborhood. As Omari Fleming writes, “New zoning rules could allow property owners to tear down traditional single-family neighborhood homes and put up three to five-story apartment complexes right next door.” According to the article, “Since at least 2020, members of the College Area Planning Board have been working with city planners to develop a vision for what they call "smart growth" in the area.”

Planners proposed two plans, both of which are facing opposition from local residents. “Neighbors say the Grand Boulevards plan is bad because it adds 10,000 new housing units to the area, while the 15-Minute plan is worse because it adds 20,000 and is based on outdated SANDAG growth projections.”

In a classic NIMBY argument, critics fear that rising property values will prompt local homeowners to sell to developers. “A city spokesperson told NBC 7 the two plans are part of a survey for the College Area Community Plan update to get feedback about the location and scale of new homes in the area. They said there will be more surveys and opportunities for input before public hearings begin in the spring of 2023.”