Critical Action Needed: Email Council to Stop SDAs!
Dear Friends of UC,
On February 14th, the City of San Diego voted to adopt changes to the Land Development Code that include replacing Transportation Priority Areas (TPAs) with Sustainable Development Areas (SDAs). The SDA designation expanded the definition of transit-oriented areas to one mile walking distance from a major current or planned public transit stop. This is contrary to multiple studies that indicate that 92% of people who take public transit live within one half mile of the transit stop.
This change will push high-density projects further from transit and generally allow for more ADUs, more density and fewer parking requirements. This change directly impacts University City Marketplace (Sprouts shopping center), which is now considered within an SDA.
What Can You Do?
The City Council will be hearing this matter for a second time (as part of the procedural approval process) on February 28th. If you disagree with this change to the definition of TPAs, please email Kent Lee, Joe LaCava, and Todd Gloria to ask them to pull the SDA from the Land Development Code Update. You can contact them at:
District 6 Councilmember Kent Lee: KentLee@sandiego.gov
District 1 Councilmember Joe LaCava: JoeLaCava@sandiego.gov
Mayor Todd Gloria: mayortoddgloria@sandiego.gov
Here are some talking points for your consideration:
• Essentially all local, federal, state, and academic sources accept 1/4-to-1/2-mile walking distance as the standard for transit-oriented development and show that transit usage drops significantly beyond 1/2 mile.
• San Diego needs real transit-oriented development to increase transit ridership and decrease auto usage. Extending half-mile TPAs to SDAs one mile from transit won't accomplish either of those objectives and would work against climate action goals.
• Further study is required to determine if people will ride scooters or bicycles to reach public transit beyond 1/2 mile. This request for further study is supported by multiple communities and organizations.
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Sincerely,
Volunteers of Help Save UC
For a deeper dive into the proposed Land Development Code Update that introduces the concept of “Sustainable Development Areas,” we encourage you to read this commentary by Danna Givot, vice chair of Neighbors for a Better San Diego, that ran in The San Diego Union-Tribune on January 30, 2023.