By Michael J. Stepner & Mary Lydon / San Diego Daily Transcript / May 21, 2026
A housing policy to build anything, anywhere doesn’t mean what’s being built is livable, lovable or even necessary. The city of San Diego proved this at a special meeting May 7 to discuss implementing Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), which becomes law on July 1. SB 79 allows for density as high as 8 stories, by right, at transit stops, both trolley and bus.
City planning staff recommended delaying SB 79 at transit-oriented development (TOD) sites that have low community resources like libraries and parks, historical buildings, areas threatened by sea-level rise, and areas that are fire prone without adequate evacuation routes. San Diego City Council agreed with this thoughtful approach and passed the ordinance. The number of qualified bus stops was a big part of the discussion as well.
All trolley stops qualified as TOD sites where SB 79 can be used, but of the 52 bus stops, city planning staff identified only four as qualified. Qualified bus stops are those that have dedicated lanes that run every 15 minutes during rush hours.
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