San Diego wants to limit upzoning law to just 16% of transit-adjacent parcels

San Diego's city planning director is asking the city council to limit the application of a new state law, SB 79, to just 16% of land near transit stops.

The law is intended to push cities to update their zoning to allow for more density near transit stations, explains David Garrick in The San Diego Union-Tribune. "Under the proposal, the zoning changes would take effect immediately only in areas with high incomes and strong amenities — areas deemed most able to absorb new housing and the new residents that come with it."

The proposal would delay implementing the law in low-income areas that "lack amenities" and neighborhoods with other challenges such as high wildfire risk, historic structures or flooding risk. "Officials say the delay would give them time to either boost those low-resource neighborhoods with new infrastructure or amenities, or at least allow officials to thoughtfully pick the best spots in those areas for dense housing projects." The city's planning director, Heidi Vonblum, wants to delay upzoning in low-income areas, which make up 26% of city land near transit stops, until 2031, and in areas with other risks, which make up 52% of land near transit stops, until mid-2027. Vonblum is also asking the council to eliminate neighborhoods where barriers like freeways or canyons impede access to the transit station despite geographic proximity.

The city's planning commission disagrees with Vonblum and has asked the council to apply SB 79 in low-resource areas by 2027. "Kelly Moden, commission chair, said the city’s low-resource areas are more likely to be bolstered than burdened by housing projects allowed by SB 79, which she called potential catalysts for those neighborhoods."

The proposal will be taken up by the city council on Thursday, and their decision would require approval by the state Department of Housing and Community Development.