Residents form groups to protest huge housing developments

Two local groups – Neighbors for a Better California, and San Diegans For Responsible Planning – have formed to protest developments region-wide exceeding the 30-foot coastal height limit.

There are currently three separate projects proposed in Pacific Beach and Point Loma, which would exceed the 30-foot coastal height limit, in effect since Prop. D passed in 1972. In PB those include a 50-foot-tall high-rise where Wasabi Sushi used to be at 2662 Garnet Ave. next to Rose Creek, and the so-called Vela “pencil tower,” a proposed 22-story, 250-foot-tall high rise is on the corner where French Gourmet and three other properties are located at 970 Turquoise St. in North PB.

In Point Loma, some residents are livid over a high-density, multi-story, mixed-use apartment proposed on the former San Diego County Credit Union site in Point Loma Village next to Cabrillo Elementary School.

Explaining the relationship between the two recently formed anti-30-foot community groups, Marcella Bothwell, who is spearheading Neighbors For a Better California, noted the situation with projects seeking waivers to build higher than 30 feet “came on so fast that we needed someplace to put donations.”

She noted San Diegans For Responsible Planning already had an existing website capable of doing that, so it was natural for the two groups to work together pooling resources. “We’re envisioning that San Diegans will fold into Neighbors,” Bothwell added.

Scott Chipman, spokesperson for San Diegans For Responsible Planning, officially launched that group on Oct. 9 outside PB library at a rally attended by over 200 residents opposing coastal high rises. During that meeting, he contended the 30-foot coastal height limit is not only being ignored by local government but actually no longer exists.

Bothwell and Chipman are both members of PB Planning Group. Bothwell is chair. But both are operating entirely independently of PB Planning Group in forming their respective groups protesting projects violating the 52-year-old coastal height limit.

“When the PB Planning Group found out about the 23-story Turquoise Street project we were shocked, disappointed, and knew that we needed to take action immediately,” said Chipman. “As members of the community we began organizing, creating a leadership team, becoming more informed, and informing community members about what was occurring, and how it was able to occur.

“I had a previous fictitious name and organization from years ago called San Diegans for Responsible Planning that I resurrected. This is an association that has allowed us to open a bank account and start soliciting donations. At the same time, we realized that the ultimate solutions to the problems associated with zoning from Sacramento would be political, and so, we began the process of forming a political action committee Neighbors for a Better California,” said Chipman.

Bothwell blames the Sacramento legislature for creating the current situation wherein developers are exploiting loopholes in state laws allowing them to build higher than 30 feet locally. “Even if we stopped this immediate threat (Vela), the (political) pendulum has swung way too far, as this particular building illustrates very well,” she said noting that the process has “combusted” with the housing crisis post-COVID. She noted the legislature has passed multiple bills to facilitate the creation of more affordable housing statewide. “They’re calling it housing, but they’re just building apartment units,” Bothwell said.

Bothwell added state government has also set housing production targets, the numbers for which she characterized as being unrealistic. “They put in these new laws that say if you (local jurisdictions) don’t meet your regional (housing production) numbers, which are unattainable, then every density-bonus project is going to be put through ministerial.

“We’re (local planners) losing any kind of discriminatory permit ability to say what is going to be in the community. Sacramento has no idea of what problems we have here in San Diego with our infrastructure, sewer, water, etc., and with our parks system. They’re taking away any of the City’s ability to take care of its citizens. It’s terrible.”

Chipman said the battle to preserve the 30-foot height limit in San Diego has just begun.

“Our immediate goal is to stop the Vela project,” he said. “Our secondary goal is to link to and work with other groups in San Diego who are opposing the abuse of our communities by misguided zoning waivers and relaxed regulations and review process.

“Our long-range goal is to wrest zoning back from the hands of Sacramento politicians and restore local control over zoning. Work has been progressing in the areas of each of our goals. We are particularly appreciative of all the community support we are receiving. This is a strong indicator that we are moving in the right direction,” Chipman said.

For more information, visit neighborsforabettercalifornia.org and sdforresponsibleplanning.org.