For years, construction projects were not conducted in San Diego’s coastal communities from Memorial Day to Labor Day to reduce potential impacts during the busy tourism season.
But now it’s over.
The summer construction moratorium in beach areas was considered an annual reprieve from building-related noise and traffic interruptions.
According to a memo from the city Engineering & Capital Projects Department to the Development Services Department, the summer moratorium will “no longer be enforced by the city for private and public construction,” starting this year.
Now, the construction ban is being discontinued to allow for “timely completion of projects.”
The memo stated:
“The primary objectives of removing this [summer moratorium] policy within the city’s jurisdiction is twofold: to allow for timely completion of projects and to increase efficiency in project completion in these areas. This change is intended to streamline project delivery within city rights of way while minimizing disruptions to the community by avoiding prolonged construction timelines.
“To help achieve these goals, it is anticipated that projects within the beach areas should incorporate additional mitigation measures and improve community outreach to help minimize potential impacts on local businesses during construction.”
Under the city’s policy change, projects that previously would have a summer moratorium stipulation can have the requirement waived if “deemed appropriate” by city staff.
And it’s all because of budget constraints. According to the La Jolla Light, a publication of the Union-Tribune, “City officials have been projecting a deficit of about $258 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year that begins July 1. Mayor Todd Gloria’s “draft” budget issued April 15 included $112 million in cuts, though it prioritized what the mayor calls “core” services: public safety, infrastructure and efforts to fight homelessness and boost housing production.”
As an aside, occasional projects have received a waiver from the moratorium from community planning boards. Plus, projects in the California Coastal Commission’s jurisdiction — typically those closest to the coast — still will be subject to commission permitting discretion on a case-by-case basis.
Yet, some beach community leaders fear the lifting of the moratorium will “destroy the tourism industry” in their areas. For example, the former president of the La Jolla Shores Association, Janie Emerson said:
“The big picture is they spent billions of dollars marketing the city as a tourist destination and then turn around and do this.If [tourists] can’t get here, they won’t come. And with social media, it only takes a second for the word to get out and they will go somewhere else. … They aren’t going to be able to park. …
“The city hasn’t understood that the beach and coastal area … are economic generators for the entire region. Now the city is taking one of the few things that is free for families — beaches and parks — and making them off limits.”
The same could be true for other beaches.
Ending the moratorium will have no effect on the city budget. This is a very suspicious announcement. There has to be some kind of private project pressure the mayor is bending over for. The reasons in the announcement have the substance of mist.