Some COVID rules made permanent
evaluate each change.
The 44 policy changes, which were approved by the city’s Planning Commission in October, include exempting downtown properties from an existing 500-foot height limit and eliminating lighting f ixtures from such calculations.
While most of downtown still must abide by height limits which keep buildings lower than 500 feet because of concerns about f light paths, the change will eliminate the height limit for a small number of downtown properties.
Another change would limit the use of palm trees as street trees, in favor of trees with larger canopies because they create more shade, which will better cool neighborhoods and help the city meet its climate action plan goals.
The changes also include making permanent some new rules during the COVID-19 pandemic that allow for outdoor dining at downtown restaurants.
In another move prompted by the pandemic, the city delayed the expiration of development permits because some projects have been slowed by the changing economy.
One of the largest changes included in the package of code amendments is new development rules regarding airplane f light paths.
The change allows taller and more dense mixed-use projects in neighborhoods near downtown, near the city’s spor ts arena and in parts of Point Loma.
In addition, the council approved f light path changes allowing more dense developments near three other airports: Brown Field in Otay Mesa, Montgomery Field in Kearny Mesa and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
City off icials say they expect the Airpor t L and Use Commission to object to some of the changes. If so, the council would have to overrule those objections this spring.
On housing projects for moderate-income residents, the city added three new incentives to encourage developers to pursue such projects. San Diego last year adopted a density bonus for such projects, its f irst leg islation geared for moderate-income projects. People in the city’s moderate-income category include nurses, f iref ighters, police off icers, teachers and other residents who make too much to qualify for subsidized, low-income housing.
Another change allows multi-story buildings with ground-f loor commercial vacancies to conver t them to housing without having to document that the space has been vacant for six months, which was the requirement. The goal is helping to solve the city ’s housing crisis and eliminating the blight of groundf loor vacancies in mixeduse and commercial areas.
The city also is cracking down on large storage containers that construction projects often place in streets. Permits f or such containers will be required for the f irst time.
On parking, the city eliminated requirements that developers provide parking spots in the Gaslamp Quarter and lowered the maximum number of parking spots developers can provide.
The goals are ref lecting development trends and making the Gaslamp Quarter more pedestrianfriendly.
On daytime care facilities for seniors, the city will now allow such businesses with no permit. The softened requirements are similar to what is needed to open a child care facility, city off icials said.
The changes have been praised by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the local chapter of the Building Industry Association.