A New Model for Growth in San Diego

"The San Diego City Council tentatively approved two plans Thursday to let housing developers build more than 9,000 units near transit stations in Pacific Beach, Clairemont Mesa and Linda Vista," according to a city news service announcement published on August 1, 2019.

Prior to the vote, Andrew Keatts reported on the Morena Corridor Specific Plan, which had a long route to this benchmark moment.

"Five years, two City Council races and three planning directors later, San Diego is poised to make way for new homes near the largest transit investment it’s ever made," according Keatts. The plan also overcame a "fierce and well-organized neighborhood opposition" to reach this point.

Keatts summarizes the plan, which is intended to integrate land use density with the new Mid-Coast Trolley line coming to the city:

The city’s proposal would let developers build some 6,000 new homes near a new trolley station at Morena Boulevard and Tecolote Drive, and would rebuild the suburban, big box retail plots with a classic urban street grid. The Council will also decide whether to make way for 3,500 new homes at the planned station near Balboa Drive and Morena Boulevard, but only on the western side of I-5, in Pacific Beach. The city’s plan would also narrow Morena Bouelvard from four lanes to three while making way for new protected bike lanes and an improved pedestrian way along the commercial corridor.