With housing costs rising due in part to the scarcity of homes in San Diego, Blueprint SD will include an amendment to the General Plan to include policies to encourage more home production in areas that can best help us achieve our climate action goals. These policies will help facilitate transit, bicycle and pedestrian connections as part of ongoing and future community plan updates and other land use planning initiatives.

Inequitable planning policies and the lack of equitable funding tools have resulted in significant disparities in funding for parks, libraries, public streets and needed fire facilities. Under the current Development Impact Fee structure, which are fees property developers pay toward these new infrastructure improvements, funds are locked into place by community boundaries. This has resulted in wealthier communities receiving more infrastructure investments, while traditionally underserved communities have received significantly less investment. Build Better SD is a citywide initiative to enable the faster and more equitable delivery of infrastructure across San Diego. This initiative sets clear policies intended to create more opportunities for innovative, culturally relevant and interactive public spaces (like libraries, parks, bike lanes and pedestrian areas) by prioritizing investments in areas where the needs are the greatest.

The Chollas Creek Watershed has unparalleled historical, biological and cultural resources, traversing from La Mesa and Lemon Grove into the neighborhoods of City Heights, Eastern Area, Encanto, Southeastern San Diego and Barrio Logan. Identified as an implementation action within the Parks Master Plan adopted by City Council in 2021, the Chollas Creek Watershed Regional Park Master Plan will provide an opportunity to bring diverse neighborhoods together through a watershed-wide system of trails and parks where people can gather, play, interact and enjoy nature. The Chollas Creek Watershed Regional Park Master Plan will deliver on the broader vision of more opportunities for outdoor recreation as well as preservation of natural qualities and habitat within this area. The specific park vision will be shaped by public input.

This effort will study and assess the viability of more opportunities for homes on City property, along with addressing impacts to City operations. Through the process, City property located within regionally defined smart growth areas and most suitable for middle-income home development will be identified. The study will also evaluate revenue generation opportunities from infill development to help support the conversion of the City’s fleet to electric vehicles.

The Citywide Trails Master Plan was identified in the Parks Master Plan as a critical implementation item. This plan will guide the equitable and environmentally responsible development, enhancement and construction of existing and new trails throughout the City. The Master Plan will also guide its close interaction and synergy with open space planning and conservation, in compliance with the City’s Multiple Species Conservation Program. In addition to trails within the City’s open space, the Trails Master Plan will also include urban pathways and other community connections.

The Clairemont Community Plan Update will serve as the long-range vision for land use, mobility, urban design, public facilities and services, natural resources, historic and cultural resources and economic development. This plan update envisions the development of active, pedestrian-oriented areas to support opportunities for homes, jobs, and mixed-use development near transit. The plan update also focuses on retail and employment centers, residential areas, parks and public spaces, and bus rapid and light rail stations. The Community Plan Update envisions a mobility network that serves vehicles and encourages walking, bicycling and transit use. It acknowledges the natural network of canyons and open spaces as an integral part of the community.

As part of the Mayor’s Our Climate, Our Future initiative, the Climate Action Plan Consistency Regulations will ensure new development is consistent with the City’s Climate Action Plan, which is currently being developed by the Sustainability and Mobility Department. Proposed regulations for new development include enhancing tree coverage and ensuring that development contributes to an active and healthy transportation environment to create a more sustainable future for all San Diegans.

The Coastal Resilience Master Plan will identify specific resilience and conservation needs along the coastline and develop a portfolio of nature-based solutions to promote resilience and protect critical coastal habitats. The plan will analyze several sites, develop nature-based solutions for five of the most feasible locations, select a pilot project and include a document that analyzes the environmental effects of nature-based solutions to address climate change along the coast.