Over 164 speaker slips (speakers and time ceders) were turned in ahead of the lengthy meeting!... (open)

On Thursday, May 1 at 9 am, the Planning Commission will review the Mayor's proposed changes to the Bonus ADU Program...(open)

LU&H is made up of four of the nine City Council members, and their  recommendation will greatly impact the full Council vote in early June...(open)

The Planning Commission was receptive and empathetic after seeing real-life photographs and hearing powerful public testimony... (open)

PLEASE TAKE 2 MINUTES TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT TO THE SAN DIEGO PLANNING COMMISSIONERS BEFORE THIS THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025... (open)

The Planning Department has published its proposed revisions to the Bonus ADU program in anticipation of the May 1 Planning  Commission hearing. The revisions address some cases but fail to address  the fundamental issue of allowing unlimited ADUs on single-family  parcels... (open)

On Thursday, May 1, the Planning Commission will hear proposed revisions to the Bonus ADU Program. Here's how you can help now... (open)

An internal memo by the Planning Department — distributed to Councilmembers on Friday but not shared with the public — changed Council direction on the Bonus ADU program... (open)

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 4, is the City Council meeting with 2 important items on the Agenda...(open)

THIS IS HUGE!  We have been asking the City Council for FOUR years to recognize and address the excesses of the Bonus ADU program. The damage the program is doing to Encanto has finally gotten the City Council to admit that the Bonus ADU program has gone way beyond what anyone intended...(open)

In yet another plot twist, the City just posted the March 4 Agenda and the resolution to abolish the Bonus ADU program has been removed!...(open)

He's trying to intimidate the Council and ignoring the valid concerns of San Diego residents... (open)

Attend a series of meetings in February with the city’s  Independent Budget Analyst to review the budget and give the public the  opportunity to ask questions about it.,, (open)

Surprise motion by Councilmember Foster sets wheels in motion for possible repeal... (open)

Many residents also expressed their numerous concerns about the Bonus ADU Program ...and the City Council agreed... (open)

Footnote 7 rezoned large areas of Chollas Valley—including areas that were planned for parks—without going through the proper Community Plan Update process. This was deliberately deceptive... (open)

Now that we are past the election, we suspect the City may bring back SB 10 and expand other controversial programs... (open)

We want College Area residents to be aware that the Planning Department is going to be making a presentation of the updated College Area Community Plan at the College Rolando Library on Monday, January 13, at 6:30 PM... (open)

Now that the 2024 election is final,  Neighbors For A Better San Diego would like to highlight several trends  that may have been missed while attention was given to more  high-profile races...(open)

Encanto and Emerald Hills residentsdemand detailed information about how neighborhoods in Southeast San Diego were rezoned to allow higher  density with no input from the community planning group or neighbors...(open)

If you have voted by mail and haven’t signed up to receive notifications  from the Secretary of State, you can check that your ballot has been  received by going to Ballottrax... (open)

We sent six questions to San Diego's Mayoral and City Council candidates. Four of the six candidates responded... (open)

Mayor Gloria is applying for a $7 million federal (HUD) grant that would allow up to 9 units on single-family lots — just like SB 10... (open)

This is your chance to hear from the candidates in person BEFORE you cast your vote... (open)

Without further ado, the envelopes please!... (open)

More Transit Tax Money = More Power for SANDAG & City = More Ways to Change Your Zoning Without Your Knowledge... (open)

Too often, people who have opposed San Diego’s Bonus ADU (Accessory  Dwelling Unit) Program have been miscast as one cohesive group of  anti-development, anti-renter, anti-affordable-housing NIMBYs. I’d like  to take a few moments to dispel these stereotypes...(open)

The OB Rag is having a contest for "Worst ADU in San Diego." Read more about the contest and participate here: The OB Rag's Worst ADU in San Diego Contest ...(open)

Two local neighborhoods recently staged impressive protests against multi-unit "Bonus ADU" projects in their communities...(open)

In San Diego, Sustainable Development really means sustaining the development industry...(open)

The details of San Diego's Bonus ADU program were buried on page 5 of the 2020 Planning Department Staff Report, while page 1 declared that the proposal was implementing state law...(open)

The SB 10 bullet we dodged was peddled as "Missing Middle Housing" by City Hall.

It wasn't, and here's why it matters...(open)

Of all the significant land-use policies approved by the San Diego City Council in 2020 amid COVID lockdowns, the most impactful is Complete Communities Housing Solutions (CCHS), yet most San Diegans are unaware of how CCHS can affect their neighborhoods...(open)

Learn where the candidates stand on the issues that impact you... (open)

It's very unfortunate that the Union-Tribune's editors did not fact-check this wildly inaccurate column and contact us for a response before publishing it... (open)

We have asked the Council to get answers to these questions before they make a final and fateful decision on January 9...(open)

City Council votes 7-1 to allow off-siting of Affordable housing...(open)

HAP 2.0 Complete Communities amendments — as always, the devil is in the details...(open)

Mayor Gloria's Affordable House of Cards - The December 12th City Council agenda was published with significant changes to Complete Communities only three working days before the City Council vote...(open)

The San Diego Union-Tribune Opinion:

Off-site affordable housing plan will enforce segregation. Why is the mayor promoting it?...(open)

Mayor Gloria and Council President Elo-Rivera have announced the return of the Housing Action Package (HAP 2.0) after it failed to pass during November's heated City Council meeting... (open)

The Mayor and the Council President have put out a press release saying that the Housing Action Package 2.0 WILL be coming back to the City Council in December... (open)

We accidentally attributed the following NBC 7 San Diego story to KUSI...(open)

San Diego planners are about to shoehorn a population greater than the city of Poway into Hillcrest, with no plans for more parks, fire stations, libraries, etc... (open)

After a 5-hour meeting, over 80 public comments, several last-minute attempts at amendments, and some heated exchanges between council members, HAP 2.0 has been punted to a future date...(open)

We are urging the City Council to REJECT the Complete Communities amendment in the Housing Action Package and we need your help to amplify our message... (open)

The City Council will be voting on the Housing Action Package 2.0 this coming Monday... (open)

"Plan Hillcrest" is the name of the community plan update for Hillcrest and the core of Uptown. Community Plan Updates determine zoning and land use for the next 20 to 30 years.

The Planning Department will present proposed updates to the Hillcrest plan this Tuesday, October 17th... (open)

The Planning Commission will hear two appeals of the Complete Communities project proposed for 301 Spruce Street tomorrow, Thursday, September 28th. This project has serious implications for all areas of San Diego... (open)

Key takeaways: SB 10 — Gone but not forgotten:  Although SB 10 was removed from the Housing Action Package, several well-funded, pro-density groups are pushing for its return. We will stay on top of this situation... (open)

SB 10 has been removed from the Housing Action Package, but there are still some significant remaining items in HAP 2.0 that San Diegans should know about... (open)

The elimination of safe and efficient parking often results in higher overall living expenses for renters of "car-free" housing... (open)

Mayor Gloria and our City Council members clearly agree that parking in San Diego is scarce and expensive...(open)

Why are San Diego City leaders tempting fate with single-family zoning loopholes in high-risk fire zones? ...(open)

No matter how clear this decision appears, we do not consider this done until SB 10 is formally removed from the Housing Action Package...(open)

BREAKING NEWS: Planning Commission Rejects SB10, and Sends it Back to the Drawing Board... (open)

The Planning Commission do-over on SB 10 is Thursday, August 3rd at 9 AM and the Agenda has been posted. It's time to make your opinion known! ...(open)

We support a sustainable, walkable, community-driven approach to housing and planning. SB 10 is yet another poorly-conceived density bomb for single-family neighborhoods and an obstacle to these goals. Worse yet, it's irreversible... (open)

Ceding your time is easy. You just need to be at the meeting by 9 AM,  fill out a Speaker Slip (provided at the door), and raise your hand when  your name is called. That's all there is to it... (open)

This is something the Planning Commissioners and San Diego City Councilmembers must understand... (open)

If SB 10 is implemented by our City Council, it CAN NEVER BE UNDONE. Not even by a future city council. So as we advance toward the final vote on the Housing Action Packae 2.0 later this summer (timeline below), there are actions you can take today to help stop SB 10 — before it's too late..(open)

In all, there were over 850 comments submitted, with almost all of them opposing SB 10. The commissioners had many reservations about SB 10 and several shared our concerns about the size and scope of it...(open)

The Mayor's Planning Department continues its push with the Housing Action Plan (HAP) 2.0, which includes the SB 10 opt-in. The next opportunity to push back against San Diego’s proposed SB 10 implementation is the Planning Commission meeting this Thursday, June 1st, 2023 at 9 AM... (open)

Hundreds of San Diego residents protest Mayor’s reckless housing initiatives... (open)

Groups from across San Diego unite in opposition to reckless high-density housing initiatives...(open)

The Senate Bill 10 Opt-In is bundled into San Diego's Housing Action Package 2.0 and currently making its way through the system. Mayor Gloria and his backers in Sacramento hope that San Diego will be the first city in the state — and probably the only city foolish enough — to "opt-in" to SB 10...(open)

The single-family home shown above is located in Clairemont. It was purchased by an outside investor who is taking advantage of San Diego's Bonus ADU Program to turn this residential home into an 11-unit apartment complex...(open)

Newly-Filed Lawsuit Challenges City of San Diego’s Massive, Irresponsible Upzoning of Single-Family Neighborhoods...(open)

As we are going through the Housing Action Package, one thing that stands out that wasn't mentioned in our last email is that if SB 10 is implemented, it CANNOT be reversed. Ever. Even by the same City Council that approved it, or subsequent City Councils... (open)

The Housing Action Package 2.0 was just released and it's worse than anything we had imagined... (open)

"...The information that you shared tonight was worse than I thought across the state and I already thought it was bad in San Diego. This is a BIG DEAL - count me in!"  ~ Town hall attendee (...open)

If this ballot measure passes, Sacramento will no longer be able to dictate San Diego’s housing policies through ill-conceived laws such as SB 9 & SB 10...(open)

If this ballot measure passes, Sacramento will no longer be able to dictate San Diego’s housing policies through ill-conceived laws such as SB 9 and SB 10... (open)

If you or someone you know attempted to register for the Housing Package 2.0 in-person meeting last Thursday, March 2nd, at the Mission Valley Library, but were unable due to registration being full, please let us know by replying to this email today... (open)

As a result of our media turnout effort and supporters who were able to show up on short notice, we had excellent coverage by both CBS 8 and ABC 10. It's rare that we get to frame the news, instead of the carefully crafted magical thinking that the City presents to the media.

As for inside the room... (open)

Today the City Council had its second reading of the Land Development Code update and, as expected, the one-mile SDA was approved by the same 5-4 margin. We thank the four Councilmembers who voted against it, but we already have to move on. The hits keep coming...(open)

If you live in Council Districts 3, 4, 6, 8, or 9, remind your Council member that it's not too late to CHANGE their vote and PULL THE SDA... (open)

Today, four thoughtful City Council members voted against approving the 2022 Land Development Code (LDC) because they thought the construct of Sustainable Development Areas (SDAs) was too significant and its implications too far-reaching to be handled as part of the LDC Update. The four council members (Joe LaCava, Jen Campbell, Marni Von Wilpert, and Raul Campillo) each had slightly different reasons, but all thought the City should invest the time to get it right....(open)

The Sierra Club San Diego Chapter has submitted a letter requesting the City Council pull the SDA. You can read that letter here...(open)

The League of Women Voters of San Diego has submitted a letter requesting the City Council pull the SDA. You can read that letter here...(open)

On the eve of the City Council vote on the SDA proposal, we shared this outstanding open letter that was sent to City Council members by Nico Calavita, Professor Emeritus in the Graduate Program in City Planning at SDSU...(open)

The Planning Department's Staff Report (see our highlights) appears to be misinforming City Council members by implying that the city risks decertification of its Housing Element if it doesn't pass the Sustainable Development Area (SDA) proposal. THIS IS NOT FACTUAL...(open)

“I’ll never see another sunrise from my backyard.”

That’s how Eric Rosenzweig describes the impact of three, two-story ADUs now under construction on the other side of his backyard fence...(open)

Here's what you can do...(open)

We urge the City Council to pull the SDA proposal from the Land Development Code Update so it can be fully considered as the major land use change that it is... (open)

The investor/builder of the closely-situated properties featured in this report is squeezing three, two-story apartment buildings in each backyard, totaling 15 income-producing rental units where two single-family homes once stood. Make no mistake, these are not "granny flats" that benefit single-family neighborhoods, homeowners, first-time homebuyers, or renters... (open)

Spoiler Alert: They want your money, not your opinion... (open)

We interviewed University City resident Bonnie Kutch regarding her recently-published Opinion essays in The San Diego Union-Tribune and the Times of San Diego. Read Bonnie's insightful commentary on the need for smart, balanced, and environmentally-sound zoning... (open)

For those of you living outside the city limits of San Diego, understand that this radical shift in SANDAG policy would set a precedent for eliminating constraints on over-development in other SANDAG municipalities... (open)

The Land Use & Housing Committee passed the Sustainable Development Area (SDA) proposal in a three-to-one vote Thursday. ...District 1 Councilmember Joe LaCava referred to the SDA as a "significant policy shift" — not a clarification, not regulatory reform, not a state mandate — but a significant policy change that does not belong in an annual code update... (open)

We’ve confirmed that the Sustainable Development Area (SDA) is on the Land Use and Housing Agenda for Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 1:00 PM... (open)

When it comes to driving successful transit-oriented development, distance to transit is a critical factor... (open)

As we pause to enjoy this well-deserved holiday break, we leave you with this summary of some of the more important issues we've reported on and will continue to address in the coming year...(open)

Because Thursday’s workshop was not an action item, no vote was taken to formally recommend one of the plan options. However, the Commissioners were clear in their preference... (open)

The College Area Community Plan Update Goes to the Planning Commission... (open)

Thank You! You made a difference!... (open)

As we explained in our last email, the Planning Department is finally proposing to use walking distance to define proximity to transit, as Neighbors For A Better San Diego has been advocating for over a year.

Unfortunately, this change is negated by the proposed overall expansion of walking distance from one-half mile to a full mile. This expansion means that MORE San Diego single-family neighborhoods will be targeted for overdevelopment... (open)

Will  your street be upzoned from single-family homes to 8-story apartment  buildings? Attend the meeting to find out and make your opinions known... (open)

...we  embrace this opportunity to address the glaring deficiencies of San  Diego’s new transit development maps, regardless of what the city wants  to call them... (open)

At the last minute before today’s Planning Department workshop on the Land Development Code Update,  the Planning Department has retracted the proposed Transit Priority  Area (TPA) revisions and instead proposes to introduce an entirely new  definition of proximity to transit, which they are calling Sustainable  Development Areas (SDAs)... (open)