Neighbors for a Better California Newsletter

NFABC presses DSD to reevaluate Project Vela’s Density Bonus compliance with official letter while Cindy Weigle’s petition surges past 1,500 signatures in days.

January 26, 2025

Neighbors for a Better California (NFABC) has submitted a formal letter to the City of San Diego's Development Services Department challenging the ministerial processing of Project Vela (aka "Turquoise Tower") at 970 Turquoise Street. 

READ THE LETTER HERE

Dated January 20, 2026, the letter argues that the project fails to meet key requirements under California's State Density Bonus Law (SDBL), particularly the two-thirds residential square footage threshold when excluding underground parking. NFABC calls for a reevaluation of calculations, strict adherence to municipal codes, denial of unnecessary concessions, and thorough analyses of cost reductions and potential health/safety impacts, including traffic concerns on Turquoise Street and Foothill Boulevard. This effort underscores our commitment to ensuring developments prioritize community safety, affordability, and legal compliance. 

A community-led change.org petition has gained rapid momentum in the last few days regarding the proposed 23-story Turquoise Tower/Vela project at 970 Turquoise Street. It was started by Cindy Weigle, a local resident and community advocate. The petition is one way to show the City that the public is paying attention and expects transparency and accountability before any approvals are issued.

What we’re asking for is straightforward: publish the baseline calculations used to justify the project’s size and intensity, put the approval path in writing (ministerial vs discretionary) with the basis for that decision, and do not issue approvals until this information is public and the community has had a reasonable opportunity to review it.

Sign and share the petition here.

For verified project developments and NFABC action steps, make sure you’re subscribed at NFABC.org

What Neighbors for a Better California (NFABC) Is Doing

NFABC refuses to accept this project as a foregone conclusion. We are actively:

• Pressing City leadership for clear answers and insisting on full transparency

• Challenging the “ministerial” designation and exploring all available legal options

• Preparing potential legal and procedural challenges

• Keeping the community fully informed and strongly organized

We remain committed to protecting our neighborhoods through persistent advocacy and accountability.

How You Can Help Right Now

Neighbors for a Better California needs your support to protect Pacific Beach from this proposed 23-story tower on Turquoise Street. Here’s what you can do immediately:

1. Spread the Word – Share This Newsletter

Forward this email to your neighbors, HOA boards, tenant associations, civic clubs, local businesses, and anyone in the community who may not yet know about Project Vela. Most residents still have no idea that a massive high-rise is being fast-tracked in our neighborhood.

2. Contact Your Elected Officials Today

Reach out directly to let them know this matters to you. Use the sample message below as a starting point—feel free to personalize it in your own words.

Councilmember Joe LaCava at: joelacava@sandiego.gov

Mayor Todd Gloria at: toddgloria@sandiego.gov

Sample message to adapt:

Dear Councilmember LaCava / Mayor Gloria,

As a resident of [your neighborhood/Pacific Beach/San Diego], I am deeply concerned about Project Vela, the proposed 23-story tower on Turquoise Street. I urge you to defend our adopted community plan, protect our neighborhood character, and demand a full, transparent review process including strict compliance with all applicable laws and municipal codes.

This project should not be treated as a simple ministerial approval. Please stand with the community and ensure proper scrutiny before any approvals move forward.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

3. Support the Legal Fund

We are preparing to challenge this project through every available legal and procedural avenue, but this requires significant resources.

Please consider making a donation today at NFABC.org.

Initial estimates indicate we will need at least $150,000 to cover attorney fees, technical experts, public records research, and court filings. No single person can shoulder this burden alone but together, we are powerful.

We still believe that good-faith planning and genuine respect for community plans are possible. But that only happens when the City stands firm against aggressive legal pressure and refuses to rubber-stamp a 23-story tower as a routine “ministerial” review.

Together, we can preserve the unique character of Pacific Beach and stop this dangerous precedent from taking root along California’s coast.

In solidarity,

Neighbors for a Better California