San Diego Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting - September 21, 2023
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San Diego Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting - September 21, 2023
The Land Use and Housing Committee met on September 21, 2023, to discuss several items, including the Housing Action Package 2.0 (HAP 2.0), a response to a grand jury report on housing, and an informational report on housing commission grants. The meeting lasted approximately three hours and included extensive public comment. The committee voted unanimously to approve the consent calendar, adopt HAP 2.0 with a minor amendment, and approve the grand jury response.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1 and 2: Second amendment to a lease at 600 B Street and a lease at 9325 Sky Park Court. Both approved unanimously without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
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Non-Agenda Public Comment: Seven speakers addressed the committee on various topics:
- Perita Javier and Wesley Morgan expressed concerns about toxic emissions from a ceramics business in a residential zone.
- Blair Beekman urged a longer public review period for the smart streetlight contract.
- Joyce Anyata discussed the complexity of affordable housing finance, citing a $909,000 per unit cost for a TEFRA project.
- Terry Ann Skelly and Judy Strain highlighted the risks of drug-impaired driving, noting that 60% of serious accidents involve alcohol and another drug, with marijuana as the most common.
- Shelby Huffaker supported cannabis social equity measures, citing studies showing no increase in youth use near dispensaries.
- Dan Schmikowski raised ethics concerns about campaign contributions.
- Lori Feldania criticized the city for criminalizing homelessness while lacking shelter beds (fewer than 25 beds available nightly).
- Aaron Lazarecki argued for loosening zoning restrictions to allow more dense housing, citing Houston's 60% reduction in homelessness.
- Kathleen Lippett opposed expanding marijuana businesses, citing mental health and addiction issues.
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Item 3 (HAP 2.0): Over 30 speakers provided testimony. Key positions:
- Support: Building Industry Association, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, YIMBY Democrats, Environmental Health Coalition (partial support), and several residents. They emphasized the urgent need for housing, pointing to 330,000 families on waitlists and only 10,000 homes permitted out of 108,000 required by 2029.
- Opposition/Concerns: Residents from Encanto, Talmadge, and Barrio Logan opposed bonus ADUs, off-site affordable units, and increased density without parking. Tom Mullaney (Livable SD) called for more study, citing waiver of open space and impact fees. Industrial representatives (SA Recycling, Port of San Diego Ship Repair) objected to the “harmful use” designation and 15-year phase-out period.
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Item 4 (Grand Jury Response): Two speakers: Joyce Anyata endorsed SB4 (faith-based housing); a caller criticized the city for not collecting data on non-deed-restricted affordable units.
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Item 5 (Housing Commission Grants): One speaker (Joyce Anyata) supported the grant report and requested analysis of why some grants were not awarded.
Discussion Items
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Housing Action Package 2.0: Staff presented a 15-minute overview of the package, which includes amendments to the Land Development Code to increase housing capacity, streamline approvals, and promote affordable housing. Key elements: implementation of AB 2097 (parking reductions near transit), JADU alignment with state law, accessible ADU incentives, public land development, mixed-use incentives, student housing density bonus, SRO incentives, complete communities modifications (off-site affordable units, moderate-income option, family housing bonus), anti-displacement measures (permanent unit protections, coastal zone replacement rules, tenant right of first refusal), and phasing out incompatible uses in the Promise Zone over 15 years. The IBA highlighted concerns about the affordable housing priority preference program and the need for data tracking. The Planning Commission had recommended approval except for missing middle (SB10) provisions, which were removed for further study. Councilmember Lee proposed two amendments: (1) limiting off-site affordable units to high/highest resource areas when the project is in such an area, and (2) extending the micro-unit (under 500 sq ft) DIF waiver until January 1, 2025, to preserve pipeline projects. Councilmember Whitburn offered a substitute motion to adopt the staff recommendation with only the second amendment, citing concern that the first amendment would reduce affordable housing production. Councilmember Moreno also requested a study on expanding the incompatible use distance and scope. The committee voted unanimously to adopt the staff recommendation with the second amendment and the study directive.
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Grand Jury Report Response: The IBA presented a proposed response to the grand jury report titled “Housing in San Diego County.” The city partially agreed with finding that it did not meet housing allocations for lower incomes, but noted it met above-moderate targets. Responses to recommendations included that the city has implemented specific plans, worked with school districts, faith-based institutions, and revenue-generating legislation (though Measure A failed and Measure C is pending). The committee voted unanimously to approve the response.
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Housing Commission Grant Report (Informational): The Housing Commission reported on grants from January–June 2023, including $8.6 million in competitive awards, $7.7 million in Continuum of Care funding, and $28 million in pass-through city funds. Notable pending applications included $45 million for infill infrastructure and HomeKey projects. The committee took no action but thanked the Housing Commission.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
- HAP 2.0: Adopted (4-0) with the following directives:
- Include the DIF waiver extension for micro-units until January 1, 2025.
- Direct staff to study expanding the incompatible use designation (distance, land use categories, sensitive receptors) and report back.
- The off-site affordable option for complete communities remains as originally proposed (allowing moderate resource areas) but will be subject to further discussion at city council.
- Grand Jury Response: Approved unanimously (4-0).
- Next Steps: HAP 2.0 will go to full city council in October/November 2023. The committee’s next regular meeting is October 19, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, and welcome to the land use and housing committee meeting of September 21st, 2023. Our committee liaison, Natalie Kessler will go over instructions for today's meetings. Thank you, Chair. While members of the public are able to attend the meetings in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the council administration will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the virtual queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the committee is able to manage and conduct city business. As a reminder, if you're in chambers, please silence your cell phones. And we appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair Moreno. Thank you. To order. Natalie, please call the roll. Vice Chair Lakava. Present. Councilmember Whitburn? Sure. Councilmember Lee? Sure. And Chair, Councilmember Moreno. Present. Um also attending the meeting today is Chris Ackerman Avila with the mayor's office, Corney Newfer, uh from the city attorney's office, uh, Ray Sheen Chen with the independent budget analyst office, and Natalie Kessler, our committee liaison. Natalie, please continue with public comment instructions. If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it on top of the box indicated at the speaker's lecture and at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. Members of the public can also join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. If you need to participate by telephone, you may dial 1669-2545252. The webinar ID is 160-268-1157 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. Members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking, or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever occurs first. Please note that if you are watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be a delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. If you wish to speak on a particular item, please wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon. Or if you're a call-in participant, please press star 9 on your cell phone or landline. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will your hand will be lowered. Chair. Thank you, Natalie, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is now present. I will now dispense with the approval of the committee actions of July 13th, 2023. Natalie, please proceed. The public comment period for the committee actions is now open. If you have already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak on the committee actions of July 13th, 2023. And Chair, we have received one speaker slip for one individual in chambers. If they can please approach the lecture and they'll have one minute. Blair Beekman. Alright, so that concludes in-person testimony. And uh Chair, there are no hands raised in the virtual queue, so that will conclude public comment on this item. Thank you.
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