The California Coastal Commission on Friday signed off on a three-story, 105-unit assisted-living and memory-care complex along El Camino Real, just east of the San Dieguito River Park. Planned on 3.97 acres owned by St. Sarkis Armenian Church, the project includes 87 assisted-living units and 18 memory-care units. It’s a major regulatory hurdle cleared, though plenty of locals are still not thrilled.
Project size and public records
Public filings on CEQAnet indicate that the proposal spans 105,568 square feet on a 3.97-acre parcel (APN 304-650-3700). The city filed a Notice of Determination in late October, and the state record characterizes the project as an amendment to earlier church-site permits. Plans call for a 40-foot building height under revised setbacks.
Developer and design
PMB LLC is the applicant and project manager, with Nolan Weinberg listed on state documents as the program manager. Amenities in the plan include a salon, dining room, fitness center, and a garden with a pool and spa, designed to keep residents on-site and comfortable.
Local sign-offs and review history
The City of San Diego placed the item on its March council agenda and approved the project on March 17. It had already cleared the Carmel Valley community planning board and won a sign-off from the San Diego Planning Commission in late 2024, capping a multi-year entitlement process.
State conditions and neighbor concern
The Coastal Commission approved the project on its consent calendar with added guardrails for nearby habitat, an open-space deed restriction on the easternmost 1.12 acres, nesting-bird surveys for any work during breeding season, and a construction runoff pollution-prevention plan, according to The Coast News. Not everyone is applauding: residents and conservation advocates continue to push back, and one written comment to the commission called the approval a “travesty.”
Neighbors organize
The Friends of the San Dieguito River Valley has repeatedly flagged the project’s footprint and potential impacts on wildlife. Opponents have also circulated a Change.org petition opposing rezoning and larger development on the church parcel. The broader neighborhood worries span traffic, emergency access, and cumulative effects along El Camino Real.
Next steps
With the Coastal Commission’s green light, the project moves toward building permits and city compliance checks. The developer told The Coast News construction could start in late 2026 or early 2027. A mitigation monitoring program on file with the state will steer on-the-ground protections and post-approval oversight.
Permitting and legal takeaway
Because the plan amends earlier church-site permits and leans on CEQA documentation already certified by the city, the remaining scrutiny centers on construction-phase compliance with Coastal Commission conditions and the mitigation program. Residents can review CEQA files, permit details, and any appeal timelines via the City of San Diego.
