San Diego Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting – June 13, 2024
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San Diego Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting – June 13, 2024
The Land Use and Housing Committee of the San Diego City Council met on June 13, 2024, to hear non‑agenda public comment. The majority of speakers addressed the future of the Mira Mesa Epicenter, urging the committee to conduct hearings before any lease decision and to designate the property as dedicated parkland. Other speakers raised concerns about marijuana and tobacco retail expansion, housing overzoning, and small‑business vitality.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Pragati (Mira Mesa Concerned Citizens): Urged the committee to conduct hearings on any lease agreement involving the Epicenter before sending it to the full City Council. Stated the land is a valuable city asset that should be protected from commercial or housing development.
- Tracy (Mira Mesa resident since 1999): Asked that the Epicenter property be zoned as part of the adjacent park, noting it has always been assumed to be parkland. Requested inclusion of the area into park zoning to allow beautification with upcoming funds.
- Cheryl Makadaan (Mira Mesa Concerned Citizens, small business owner): Called for official designation of the Epicenter as dedicated parkland and transfer of jurisdiction from Economic Development to Parks and Recreation. Requested transparency and community input.
- Mitz Lee: Requested the committee not be bypassed by having the lease docket directly to full council. Invited Councilmember Kent Lee to attend a community dialogue on June 20, 2024, at the Mira Mesa Senior Center.
- Jeff Waiter (Neighbors for a Better San Diego): Provided data on housing capacity—174,000 units in 2020, now approaching 270,000 under current zoning. Warned that overzoning raises land values and leads to higher rents, favoring “four‑over‑one” and “five‑over‑one” buildings over very tall structures.
- Tammy Ratliff (Mission Hills Community Preservation Group board): Described declining retail in Mission Hills, with only two shops left in a block that once had 12. Requested converting an unused bus stop into a streetcar stop, landmark, or park to revitalize the area.
- Terry Ann Skelly (youth mentoring programs): Expressed grave concern about plans to increase marijuana storefronts under equity initiatives, stating young adults need neighborhoods free from drug‑marketing messages.
- Laney Hardman (Mira Mesa Concerned Citizens): Repeated the request that the committee review the Epicenter lease before full council. Asked about lease term, protections from development, and contingency plans. Also extended an invitation to Councilmember Lee for the June 20 meeting.
- Unnamed speaker (phone ending 7968): Thanked Committee Member Moreno for leadership on a brush‑fire maintenance audit that received an award. Briefly commented on housing obstacles.
- Kelly McCormick (public health educator): Applauded LGBTQ community efforts against tobacco marketing, citing higher smoking rates among LGBTQ teens (11.4% vs. 6.4%). Referenced the 1995 RJ Reynolds “Project Scum” campaign in San Francisco.
- Blair Beekman: Praised the meeting’s conversation on future challenges and urged best practices, openness, and accountability. Mentioned a city wildlife surveillance ordinance as an example.
- Mark Carroll: Supported the Mira Mesa Epicenter advocates, stating they are the experts on the building’s best use. Called for transfer of the building to Parks and Recreation and invited Councilmember Lee to the June 20 meeting.
- Karen Wilshi (Mira Mesa resident 35+ years): Urged hearings on the Epicenter similar to those held for Hillcrest that day. Invited Councilmember Lee to the Concerned Citizens meeting.
- Kathleen Lippett (public health advocate): Opposed expansion of marijuana retail, citing studies linking marijuana use to intimate partner violence, increased risk of other drug use, and youth addiction. Asked for constraints on marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol marketing.
Discussion Items
No formal discussion items were on the agenda. The meeting consisted entirely of non‑agenda public testimony.
Key Outcomes
- The meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:30 p.m. (implied) with no votes or formal actions taken.
- The next regularly scheduled Land Use and Housing Committee meeting will be Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.
- Several speakers requested that the Mira Mesa Epicenter lease be reviewed by this committee before going to the full City Council; the chair did not respond to those requests during the meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Actually, the library in 1977. It currently shares the ingress and egress and parking of the park, and it is just a no-brainer, simply put. We are currently investing over 40,000 in the uh park that it abuts. Um, and it would be um prudent financially speaking to protect that property to to preserve it for recreational uses uses, which it has been since its inception. And um thank you very much. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Pragati, if you'd like to come up to the lecture, you'll have two minutes, please begin. Thank you. Uh I'm here as a member of the Mira Mesa Concerned Citizens, and I'd like to speak about the epicenter lease. The epicenter building is located in the very center of Mira Mesa, adjacent to our central community park and across from Mira Mesa High School. We urge this committee to conduct hearings on any lease agreement in order to conduct due diligence in this matter before sending it to the full city council to be voted on. The epicenter and its surrounding land is a valuable city asset and should be protected for the city and more importantly for the community of Mira Mesa. We would hate to see this community asset, possibly in the future, turn into commercial or housing, for example. As Sandy stated, it is it has always been viewed as part of the park and should continue to be land that's accessible for community residents. Holding discussion will promote transparency and gather public input, which we hope will ultimately affect the terms of the lease, so that it will best serve the community of Mira Mesa. We hope you will consider this request. Thank you. Thank you. Tracy, if you could please approach the lecture, and you'll have two minutes. Good evening. It's been a long day. I know you guys are all tired. Um, so I've been a longtime resident of Mira Mesa since 1999. Uh my kids have played in the parks, they've gone to the recenter and done classes. Um, the teen center, they actually went to the teen center um several times before it was closed down. And it was always assumed that that was part of the park. Um, and so I am here as many other citizens have asked that we come and speak and ask that you please put that property as part of the park location, part of the under the that um, I don't have the right word. Anyhow, the zoning of the park. And um, Kent, we appreciate everything that you've done to help Mara Mesa. We know you're Mara Mesa resident as I am, and we look forward to everyone doing the right thing. And now that we've realized that the it is not zoned into the park, it's right next to the senior center, it's right across from the Mara Mesa High School. You know, it's time for the heart of Mara Mesa to have that area also included in there, and for us to beautify that park with those funds that we know are coming that way. So heart of Mara Mesa needs it, and um, we have a great community, a lot of people there that love the park, and it's time to have that epic center included into that zoning. We appreciate your time. Thank you so much. Thank you. Cheryl, please approach the lecture. You'll have two minutes. Good evening, Chair Lee, uh, council members and staff. My name is Cheryl Makadaan, Pira ESO. I am a proud member of um the Mira Mesa Concerned Citizens. I am a small business owner. I um had the privilege of living in Miracle twice, um, where I have five kids and Mary Tio husband who has served in your military, is has been um a former probation officer in your in your in the city too. And I am here to let you know that I am here standing with my lovely uh constituents here calling um on San Diego City officials to take decisive action to protect this Mira Mesa Epicenter from future commercial and residential development. The epicenter is a cherished community space, yet isn't it is not currently designated as dedicated parkland, unlike the surrounding areas. This leaves its vulnerable to potential development. We urge the city to officially designate the epicenter as dedicated parkland and transfer its jurisdiction from the economic development department to the San Diego Park and Recreation. Our community cannot be overlooked anymore. We humbly request for complete transparency and inclusive inclusive community input, which has been sadly lacking thus far.
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