The San Diego Planning Commission voted unanimously on August 3, 2023 to advance ten pro-housing policies from Mayor Todd Gloria's Housing Action Plan to the city council in an effort to make housing more available to people of all incomes, according to Fox5 San Diego. Interestingly, the commission chose to withhold its support for Senate Bill 10 (SB 10) at this time, sparking discussions on its future in San Diego's housing policy.
SB 10, which La Jolla Light reports went into effect last year and is optional for cities, would make it easier for cities to zone for smaller, low-cost developments of up to 10 units per parcel. San Diego's proposed package includes provisions that would allow a single-family home to be replaced with a structure up to three stories tall. The majority of public speakers at the commission's meeting expressed opinions on the implementation of SB 10, but the commission opted not to include it in their recommendations.
Instead of outright support or rejection, the commission opted for a middle ground, recommending the city hold workshops to allow for more public input on how to address the gap between lower and middle-income homes, as reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune. This decision signifies an attempt to balance the needs of a growing population with concerns from residents who worry that SB 10 could alter the character of long-established neighborhoods.
The Housing Action Plan policies will now move on to the Land Use and Housing Committee on September 21 before going to the city council for consideration. Despite holding off on SB 10 for now, Mayor Gloria remains hopeful that it could be taken up later in a workshop, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
While some residents argue that over-development resulting from SB 10 may not lead to more affordable housing and merely increase developers' profits, others claim the policy is desperately needed to ease the housing crisis and provide for those with lower incomes and section 8 vouchers. These opposing viewpoints reveal the complexities and challenges involved in striking an optimal balance in housing policy.
The current Housing Action Package approved by the Planning Commission includes provisions such as converting unused land for housing, extending building permit times, eliminating parking requirements for projects within a half-mile of public transit lines, and making it easier to build off-campus housing, reports La Jolla Light. Although SB 10 was a significant focus of the package, the mayor's office has confirmed that it will not push for its inclusion within the housing package going forward.
As the Housing Action Package moves forward to the city council for consideration, the future of SB 10 in San Diego remains uncertain, with public input and further discussions to come. While some advocate for the bill's potential benefits to affordable housing, others express concerns over its potential risks.
