From Just recently, we learned that the City of San Diego has scheduled a “Preservation & Progress” Virtual Workshop for Wednesday, October 8 at 2pm.
We are uncertain whether this meeting will be a genuine “workshop,” given that staff has indicated it will be presenting pre-determined proposed changes. And they are not waiting for the independent consultants at PlaceEconomics to release their fact-based report with crucial information that would inform the City and the public.
The City’s proposed changes are as follows:
- Proposed changes to the Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan
- Updates to the Historic Designation Appeal Process
- Amendments to the Complete Communities Housing Solutions program
- Proposed changes to the use of the Historic Preservation Fund
These proposals all relate to what staff terms “Package A.” (Package B, including changes to the Mills Act Program, will be released later.) Package A includes programs that could drastically weaken historic preservation protections. We anticipate proposals that will allow a de novo appeal process, giving City Council the ability to supplant the expertise of Historic Resources Board members with their political preference; permit the erosion of historic district protections, thereby subjecting them to Complete Communities; and, prioritize the streamlining of new construction over historic preservation.
THERE’S STILL TIME TO ACT, BY SUBMITTING COMMENTS TO THE CITY VIA ITS ONLINE PORTAL. HERE’S HOW:
Submit your full comments in writing through the City’s portal
Also email your comments directly to: historicplanning@sandiego.gov
Sample Points You Can Use – Tell the City to:
Reject the proposed de novo appeal process—keep HRB decisions impartial, expert, and fact-based. A “do-over” process would let the City Council ignore the experts and make historic designation decisions based on politics, not facts.
Protect and complete San Diego’s historic districts, including Ocean Beach, and create a clear path for National Register Districts to gain local recognition. Historic districts don’t hinder progress, they preserve identity, promote sustainability, and ensure smart growth that respects community character.
Focus on true preservation: adaptive reuse, infill, and design guidelines—not fast-tracking demolition in the name of new construction.
Strengthen, don’t weaken, San Diego’s preservation policies.
San Diego’s historic homes and neighborhoods are a vital part of our city’s identity, affordability, and sustainability.
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Register to attend the workshop (virtual only) here
A Note About Speaking at the Workshop
While we do encourage you to attend the Zoom meeting, we also understand that a weekday midday meeting is not accessible to many working families’ schedules. These “workshops” tend to limit public comments, sometimes to just one minute per person if many attendees (in their estimation) show up. As we all know, no meaningful message can be delivered in 60 seconds, and the city usually does not allow for ceding time via Zoom.
Please add your voice today.
