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Council adopts Coastal Commission modifications to parking reforms and approves two undergrounding districts
Summary
The council approved Coastal Commission modifications to the transit-priority parking reform and Housing Action Package 2 and approved creation of two undergrounding utility districts (University Heights and Encanto) and certification of a programmatic EIR; votes were unanimous with minor absences noted.
The San Diego City Council on Dec. 8 adopted the California Coastal Commission’s conditional modifications to the city’s transit priority area parking reform and Housing Action Package 2 and approved two new undergrounding utility districts and certification of the program Environmental Impact Report.
Staff planner Angela Dang described the Coastal Commission’s conditional certification, noting one modification per item that staff recommends the council accept so the overall package can receive final Coastal Commission certification. The modifications include removing a reference to a now-repealed Barrio Logan planned district ordinance section and adding additional vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction measure requirements for certain nonresidential development in beach-impact areas.
Aria Grossman, policy manager at Circulate San Diego, urged adoption, arguing that easing parking requirements supports transit-oriented housing. Opponents who spoke during public comment cautioned that many San Diegans still rely on cars and warned about parking impacts in neighborhoods.
Separately, the council approved creation of two new undergrounding districts — University Heights 02 and Encanto 09 — and certified the program EIR for the utilities undergrounding program. Staff said University Heights will serve roughly 230 properties across nearly two miles of streets and remove about 91 poles; Encanto will serve roughly 240 properties across almost three miles and remove about 115 poles. Preliminary, conservative cost estimates cited in staff materials were about $10 million per mile.
Votes and significance: The council approved the Coastal Commission modifications (recorded 7–0 with Council Members Von Wilpert and Campbell absent for that vote) and approved the undergrounding district creations (vote recorded as unanimous with Campbell absent). Staff noted the Coastal Commission certification step is required for the municipal code and local coastal program changes to take effect in the coastal overlay.
What’s next: If the council amends the modifications, the packages would need to be resubmitted to the Coastal Commission, which staff warned could delay implementation. For the undergrounding program, staff said notices to proceed are expected this fiscal year for both projects and that construction could take several years once design and procurement are completed.
