By Donna Frye
On November 5, 2025 the Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee met to update the city’s 2025-2026 Legislative Priorities.
Included was a state policy priority that read:
“Support measures that promote the use of public land for housing, including affordable and middle-income housing, and streamline Surplus Land Act processes to enhance the viability of housing projects on public land.”
The public made their voices heard through their emails and public comments; they requested that this legislative priority be changed to help protect our public parklands, such as Mission Bay Park, from housing development and not be considered surplus land under the State Surplus Land Act.
The chair of the committee, Councilmember Campillo, made a motion to support the public’s request by amending State Policy Priority 15 and eliminating the reference to streamlining the State Surplus Land Act:
“Support measures that promote the use of public land for housing, including affordable and middle-income housing.”
He added the following language to protect our parks from housing development:
“Support legislation that would amend the Surplus Land Act to clarify that not all public land is suitable for housing, particularly where development would conflict with the City Charter or voter-approved measures, including, but not limited to, dedicated public parkland, Such as Mission Bay Park, Balboa Park, Mission Trails Regional Park, other regional parks, open space or canyons.”
“Support legislation that would amend the State Surplus Land Act to exclude Mission Bay Park.”
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Campbell. The two other committee members, Councilmembers Lee and Foster both voted to support the amendment.
Because this is state legislation, there is still more work to be done but this is a great outcome. The legislative platform is expected to go before the full city council in the next month.
Excellent news. Please keep all of us posted (as I know you will) when we need to send our support for this amendment to our state legislative representatives.