Editordude: This is another post as part of the Rag’s response to a U-T commentary about lifting the coastal 30 foot height limit.
by Judy Swink
It’s ironic that the writer of the Op-Ed is from La Jolla given that the campaign to create a 30’ coastal height limit for the City of San Diego began in La Jolla with outrage over construction of 939 Coast Blvd., the high rise towering above the coast near the Children’s Pool. It was La Jollans who put out the “call to arms”, joined by many other San Diegans, resulting in Proposition D, the citizens ballot initiative approved in 1972 by 63.06% (186,007) of voters citywide. Votes against were just 36.94% (108,968).
According to a 2022 piece in the OB Rag, 80% of voters in Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach voted in favor of Prop D.
Several amendments to the Coastal Height Limit Overlay Zone have been put to voters since 1972. In 1988, an amendment to allow restoration of the chimney and rooftop cupola of the 1915 Mission Brewery (Hancock @Washington St), voters agreed by 74.10%. In 1998, a different Prop. D to enable Sea World to exceed the 30-foot height limit (to a height not to exceed ½ the height of the Sea World Tower), squeaked by with 50.73% following misleading claims that approval would enhance Sea World’s programs for research and rescue of sea life.
In 2000, 67.49% approved lifting height limits for the San Ysidro International Gateway of the Americas although the measure specified various height limits within the project.
Then we come to the two City Council-initiated ballot measures for lifting the height limit for the Midway-Pacific Highway Community Plan to enable high-rise development of the Sports Arena property. In 2020, Proposition E passed with 56.56% but it was nullified after a lawsuit successfully argued that the EIR for the project was massively insufficient.
The City tried again in 2022, but Proposition C passed with only 51.14% because voters had become more aware of concerns regarding a still inadequate EIR which continued to ignore the additional traffic impacts that such a large residential development would bring. Courts have nullified the results of the 2022 measure; the City may still appeal to the CA Supreme Court.
As for the argument that allowing high-rise building west of I-5, the eastern boundary of the 30-foot Coastal Height Limit Overlay Zone, would create affordable housing close to the coast for low and middle income it’s absurd. There is plenty of evidence that new housing, be it in the Coastal Overlay Zone or inland of I-5, does not and has not resulted in substantial quantities of “affordable housing”. Only a very small fraction of units in new residential buildings are set aside as “affordable” to rent or buy; many of those are affordable mainly to those earning upper-middle or higher incomes. San Diego’s desperate need for affordable housing is largely for those earning a very low and low income.
Here’s another response to the UT commentary in a Letter to the Editor:
“Let’s change outdated coastal height limit” (Oct. 23): After reading Harry Bubbins’ commentary, I was struck by his worry about “the teacher in La Jolla who can’t afford to live in the community where they teach.” Well, that’s me. I have been teaching in La Jolla for more than 25 years and don’t mind driving in each day. I would rather see the character and charm of our individual neighborhoods preserved than ruin them in the name of “density.” We don’t need Miami Beach-style high-rise buildings dotting the coastline. Proposition D was designed to prevent just this type of thing and was wisely supported by San Diego voters.
We have a beautiful city that draws tourists from all over the world. Donna Frye said it best: “They don’t come here to see our condos.”
Perhaps we can look to another beautiful city as an example of smart growth, Santa Barbara, which retains its quaint charm by enforcing height restrictions.
— Mark Heinze, San Diego
Where are all these new people going to live? I grew up in North Park in a nice big house, the kids plsyed on the street. I cant afford to live there, tried to buy there 30 years ago. All or most of them would hsve stayed, but there is no place for them to grow up raise s family hre. The only way us build up, or out. Personally i dont want to live in a highrise. Kiids goung uo and down stairs and elevators just to go out and play. We have open space galore just to the east all along the coast, but we arent allowed to build there either.