POINT LOMA – A region-wide grassroots movement opposing local government efforts to construct higher and denser affordable housing closer to mass transit sites has begun.
At a town hall on Nov. 1 at the Point Loma/Hervey Branch Library, like-minded civic groups citywide gathered to begin organizing against the city’s ongoing efforts to increase housing density in residential neighborhoods.
Sponsored by Save Our Access, a Peninsula group opposing over-densification and supporting coastal access, the meeting’s purpose was to launch a united community front. That effort seeks to oppose the current state and local government strategy, embodied in recently-passed SB 79, of amending local zoning laws to build denser and more affordable housing near existing and planned mass-transit routes.
The Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 10, overrides local zoning limitations and allows greater heights and denser residential development along established transit corridors.
The bill’s signing is seen by some as a usurpation of local public land-use control.
“This is a welcome to all San Diego neighborhoods for this important community town hall because we wanted to keep the momentum going as every one of these neighborhoods has [projects] coming down the pipeline,” said Peninsula community activist Margaret Virissimo at the meeting. “This is about how we can work together as a powerful group because these neighborhoods can’t [oppose overdevelopment] themselves.”
In an email advertising the community town hall, organizers noted the objective was “to discuss the next steps in keeping the momentum of bringing all the (community) coalitions together to continue fighting under one umbrella….
“The main goal is to bring us all together in a very organized forum and keep our focus on upcoming San Diego protests, lawsuits, partnering with larger organizations, and overall, keeping our united fronts on all levels and communication lines open among all the different coalitions.”
The Nov. 1 meeting included a panel discussion with an audience Q&A session at the end. Among a handful of community coalition members speaking out were Peninsula community planner Eric Law, speaking for himself, and John McNab of Point Loma-based Save Our Access. Both addressed the new coalition’s mission.
“We’ve been fighting for our lives across our neighborhoods on issue after issue,” said Law. “We’ve held protests on several issues across the city. And many of us feel like we’re losing ground — though we continue to try because our neighborhoods and people are worth fighting for.”
McNab spoke of the recent court victory upholding the 30-foot height limit for the Midway District and the ongoing redevelopment of the sports arena area.
“What we need is a greater civic vision,” he said. “The reason that you’re fighting all these little tiny forest fires is that we have never come together for the big ones. We were a place that looked to set a higher bar. However we come together, we need to take a look and say, ‘Let’s do the right thing. Do not just be reactive. Let’s be proactive and put visions out there.’”
Among the many topics discussed at the community town hall was brainstorming for a name for the new united community front, a list of which was available for voting on by those in attendance.
That list included possibilities such as Responsible Housing SD, Smart Growth SD, Resilient Housing SD, Neighborhood Futures SD, SD Community Planning Partnership, San Diego Neighborhood Alliance, Smart Growth San Diego, Better Built San Diego, San Diego Community Planning Partnership, San Diego Community Grass Roots Network, San Diego Community Action Group, and United San Diego Neighbors.
Organizers of the new community coalition said they expect to meet monthly with venues rotating among different neighborhoods so they can attract more people to the meetings and fully understand each neighborhood’s goals. In the end, working together to protect the quality of life in San Diego. Their first line of business is to align for a major press conference with all the different neighborhoods speaking in the next few weeks.
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