|
Neighbors for a Better California (NFABC) Newsletter – June 2025 Welcome to the June 2025 Neighbors for a Better California (NFABC) newsletter! We advocate for transparency, affordability, and community-driven development in San Diego. This week, we highlight barriers to public access at the Development Services Department (DSD), share details on a significant Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permit application on Chalcedony Street, and update you on the Turquoise Tower project and its potential risks under new state legislation. 1. Advocating for Transparency at DSD NFABC, alongside members of the Pacific Beach Planning Group, is addressing barriers to accessing project information at the City of San Diego’s Development Services Department (DSD). During a recent appointment to review plans, our members were surprised to learn of a $34 administrative fee for reviewing project documents and a policy prohibiting note-taking. Although our Councilmember Joe La Cava’s staff clarified with DSD that the note-taking restriction was a misunderstanding, DSD staff presented it as official policy, revealing a communication gap. The Pacific Beach Planning group is drafting a letter to DSD Director Elyse Lowe, requesting: • Documentation justifying the $34 fee. • Identification of those responsible for the fee and note-taking policies. • Confirmation of whether the note-taking restriction is official or a misunderstanding. • Steps to ensure DSD staff are accurately trained in community interactions. • Alternatives, such as waiving fees for public-interest reviews These barriers, whether intentional or miscommunicated, hinder community engagement in San Diego’s development process. The Pacific Beach Planning Group will discuss potential protest letter at its next meeting on June 11, 2025, at 6:30 PM.
2. Bonus ADU Supplement – Chalcedony and Pacifica Permit Applications Chalcedony: A new permit for 116 units at 2596 Chalcedony Street, on the west end of Bluffside in Pacific Beach, proposes cramming 114 Bonus ADUs into a single-family lot—right between Admiral Hartman Navy Housing and the Pacifica neighborhood in PB, just off Highway 5.Despite its scale, the project includes only one road for ingress/egress, which will bottleneck the existing three-way stop sign and create a street parking nightmare for neighbors.The plan includes 69 parking spaces for 116 units. Half are labeled “affordable” - but likely for moderate-income households, where a studio would rent for over $2,600/ month under 2025 guidelines. Pacifica: While no permit is yet filed for 4846 Pacifica, recent investor presentation deck shows 22 units (one house+ one by-right ADU and 20 Bonus ADUs) funding documents. These projects while offically separate and adjacent physically. NFABC will speak at the June 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM City of San Diego City Council regarding new Bonus ADU regulations in the city. Want to speak up too? Easy Talking Points for you to use either in email or in-person comments HERE 3. TurquoiseTower in Pacific Beach and Concerns About SB 79 The Turquoise Tower, a proposed high-rise development in Pacific Beach, continues to raise community concerns as it moves through the permitting process. While specific updates on the project’s status are not yet available, NFABC is vigilantly monitoring developments to ensure the project aligns with Pacific Beach’s coastal character and community needs, particularly regarding traffic, parking, and views. Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), passed on the Senate floor last week,
could amplify concerns about Turquoise Tower. In 2025, the California legislature introduced over 160 housing bills, with more than 60 placeholder “spot bills” that could increase this count, undermining local control over development in our neighborhoods. It appears legislators prioritize attaching their names to bills over crafting effectivepolicy. The volume of new laws and their complex interactions with existing and emerging legislation create uncertainty about their impacts. This lack of clarity and experience with these laws risks harming our communities by reducing local oversight and input. Notably, Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), passed on the Senate floor last week, streamlines housing development within a half-mile of current and future transit-oriented development (TOD) sites, even overriding single-family zoning (see last week’s newsletter for details). By expanding ministerial (by-right) approvals for projects meeting affordability and zoning criteria, SB 79 could enable unscrupulous developers to bypass community input,threatening neighborhood character. Key provisions include: • Streamlined Approvals: Projects with affordable housing units can skip discretionary reviews, limiting public hearings. • Density Bonuses: Developers including deed-restricted affordable units may gain increased height or density allowances, potentially intensifying projects like Turquoise Tower. • CEQA Exemptions: Qualifying urban infill projects may avoid California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reviews, speeding up timelines. If Turquoise Tower qualifies under SB 79, it could proceed with reduced oversight, limiting NFABC’s ability to advocate for mitigations addressing San Diego’s unique coastal concerns, such as traffic congestion or impacts on public access to the coast. If you appreciate or work.on your behalf, please consider donating to NFABC.org to support our advocacy in the community! Hope to see you next week at City Council! Sincerely, NFABC Board
|
