City of San DiegoGeneral Plan

&Sustainability

William AndersonDirector

City Planning & Community Investment andersonw@sandiego.gov

Planning for Growth

‐

500,000 

1,000,000 

1,500,000 

2,000,000 

2,500,000 

3,000,000 

3,500,000 

4,000,000 

4,500,000 

5,000,000 

2008 2050 Change

Rest of County

City

43%44%

49%

Housing Type

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

120.0%

2008 2050

MF

SF

1970s Growth

Management

Growth Management –Directed Growth & Facility Funding

Tier Funding

Urbanized No fees, CIP

Urbanizing Developer financed

Future Urbanizing Phase shift, then developer financed

Urbanized Areas UnpreparedOutrage over increased density without facilities

1987 IDO – Growth Management 8,000 units/yr citywide, allocated by community

Some communities in Planned Urbanizing Area exempted if facilities funded

Superior facilities provided to get approvalsExacerbated inequities between urbanizing and urbanized areas

Inferior infill design quality1988 single‐family overlay zones

Block by block determination

Growth WarsNov. 1988 – Four competing growth management measures

2 citizen measures – building caps1 City measure – higher building caps1 regional cooperation measure – no building cap

Only the regional cooperation measure passedBasis for SANDAG’s Regional Growth Planning

1990 Initiative to tie units to road LOSDefeatedResponse: TOD policies

Clean‐up in 1990sDevelopment Impact Fees in Urbanized AreasEnvironmentally Sensitive Lands & MSCPPlanned District Ordinances

Impetus for new Land Development CodeTransit‐Oriented Development PoliciesGood examples emergedDowntown’s renaissance

A City of Villages

Guiding Principles1. An open space network formed by parks, canyons, river valleys, habitats, beaches, and oceans;

2. Diverse residential communities formed by the open space network;

3. Compact and walkable mixed-use villages of different scales within communities;

4. Employment centers for a strong economy;

5. An integrated regional transportation network of transit, roadways, and freeways that efficiently link communities and villages to each other and to employment centers;

6. High quality, affordable, and well-maintained public facilities to serve the City’s population, workers, and visitors;

7. Historic districts and sites that respect our heritage;

8. Balanced communities that offer opportunities for all San Diegans and share citywide responsibilities;

9. A clean and sustainable environment; and

10. A high aesthetic standard.

City Planning & Community Investment

A City Set in aBio-Diverse Region

Open space defines and links communities Complements the environment and respects natural features

GHG Inventory Project Results

www.sandiego.edu/epic

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

2006 Levels 2020 BAU Projections AB 32 Target Executive Order S-3-05 Target (2050)

MM

T CO

2E

Hypothetical GHG Emissions Reduction Targets San Diego County

ON-ROAD TRANSPORTATION

46%

ELECTRICITY 25%

NATURAL GAS END USES

9%

CIVIL AVIATION5%

INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND

PRODUCTS5%

OTHER FUELS/OTHER4%

OFF-ROAD EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES

4%WASTE

2%

AGRICULTURE/FORESTRY/LAND USE

2%RAIL1%

WATER-BORNE NAVIGATION

0.4%

GHG Inventory Project Results

www.sandiego.edu/epic

GHG Emissions for San Diego County (2006)

Climate Change

Mobility and land use coordination

Sustainable building practices

Water conservation

Adaptation to impacts

Continued habitat conservation

Economic development

Climate Change Addressed Throughout the General Plan

Land Use as a Sustainability Strategy

Population is growingHow to plan for growth responsibly and to achieve sustainability goals?

City of Villages strategy Links land use and transit planningDistinctive, mixed use villagesPedestrian orientedInterconnected streetsLocal destinations (stores, services, parks, schools)Connected to transitDistinctive public places

Village Propensity Map

Mobility StrategiesCars and trucks produces 46% of GHG emissions in San Diego County

Transit/Land Use CoordinationMulti‐modal solutions

Walkable communitiesBicycle facilitiesStreets and freewaysTransit and transit‐orientation Parking managementTransportation management

Toolboxes allow for tailored solutionsRegional Collaboration

Urban Design ElementRespect distinctive neighborhoods and enhance characterCreate diverse, walkable, mixed‐use villagesDesign vibrant public spaces and prominent civic architecture

Conservation Element

Open Space ProtectionsSmart Growth

Ecosystem Services

Urban Form Benefits

San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program

Comprehensive habitat conservation planning

49,230 acres (93% of City’s goal) are conserved or are obligated to be conserved. 

Conservation Electricity use accounts for 25% of San Diego County GHG emissions

Promote sustainable developmentAddress climate change

Clean tech industriesGreen buildings Waste reduction and recycling

Conserve and manage resources Water supplyEnergy

Manage storm water runoff

General Plan Water Policies

Water Supply and Infrastructure

Increase alternative water sourcesProvide and maintain infrastructureExpand recycled water distribution systemRecognize water/energy nexus

Sustainable DevelopmentGreen buildings Landscape design and maintenance

Public Facilities and Conservation Elements

General Plan Water PoliciesPublic Facilities and Conservation Elements

Water Conservation and management

Water conservation measuresWatershed protectionGroundwater and surface water resources managementManage floodplains

Coordinated PlanningState and regional water resource planningWater and land use planningDevelopment project reviewPlan for emergencies and climate change impacts

Public Education

The General Plan Action Plan

Identifies actions (implementation measures) derived from General Plan goals and policies

Organized by GP Element and timeframe

Sets key implementation priorities

Helps to inform the budget process

Will be used for annual monitoring of the General Plan

Adopted July 2009

Key Implementation Actions

Community Plan UpdatesWith updated zoningPublic  Facilities  Financing PlanProgram EIRs

Climate Change InitiativesClimate Protection Action PlanUpdates to the City’s Sustainable Building Council PoliciesEnergy Efficiency and RetrofitsClean Generation

City of San Diego Land Development Code 

Commercial/Mixed‐Use zonesPedestrian‐Oriented Design standardsParking reductions for mixed‐use, transit proximityTandem parking in some areasSmall lot and townhouse zonesLandscape Standards

Street trees requiredTurf limitedWater conservation mandates

Community Gardens /Urban Agriculture code changes underway

General Plan Monitoring Report

Annual overview of progressDetailed Action Plan matrixKey Actions

Community Plan UpdatesClimate Initiatives

34

Regional CollaborationSANDAG

Regional  Comprehensive  Plan

Regional Climate Action Strategy

Regional Transportation Plan 

Sustainable Communities Strategy to meetState‐mandated greenhouse gas emissions targets

Infill ChallengesScale & vertical integration of comprehensive plans

Public facility financing at a neighborhood level

CEQA & traffic modeling conventions

Funding commitment to competitive transit service

Standards – Parks, Parking, & Design

Infill housing diversity

Climate ProtectionLand Use, Housing, Open SpaceMobilityClean Tech and the EconomyEnergyWaterWaste ManagementStorm Water

http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/genplan