San Diego, CA

Opinion: City needs to have coherent rules on ‘transit-oriented’ projects

Published

9 months ago

June 10, 2025

Opinion: City needs to have coherent rules on ‘transit-oriented’ projects

On March 7, 2023, as part of Mayor Todd Gloria’s 2022 Land Development Code Update, five San Diego City Council members voted to adopt the “Sustainable Development Area” (SDA) to apply to local San Diego zoning programs, including the Bonus ADU Program and Complete Communities. The council’s declaration that housing built up to a full mile from transit is “transit-oriented development” is unique to San Diego and unsupported by any academic or professional research.

Before the creation of the Sustainable Development Area, the city used Transit Priority Areas (TPAs) to define transit-oriented development. Transit Priority Areas were mapped as one-half mile from major transit stops “as the crow flies.” This measurement was always problematic because it didn’t consider natural or manmade barriers, including canyons and freeways, and resulted in real-world walking distances up to three miles from transit stops.

In 2022, the Planning Department finally acknowledged this absurdity and invented the Sustainable Development Area, which is one-mile walking distance from existing or planned transit, and declared this a reasonable walking distance for transit-oriented development (TOD). But the real motive for substituting the one-mile distance is not to increase transit use — which it doesn’t — but to preserve and even increase the area eligible for the Bonus ADU Program.

Neighbors For A Better San Diego shared research with our elected officials confirming that truly “walkable” transit is located no more than one-half mile unimpeded from a major transit stop.

We presented SANDAG data showing that 92% of San Diegans who use public transit walk a half-mile or less to a transit stop. We also proved that San Diego would be ineligible for most transit-oriented development grants, which limit walking distance to transit to one-half mile. Still, the City Council embraced the discredited definition of “transit-friendly” as being a full mile from a transit stop.

The city is two years into its blind commitment to the “Sustainable Development Area.” Roughly half of permitted Bonus ADU projects are located more than a half-mile from transit, which makes their residents vehicle dependent.

And this one-mile-from-transit SDA policy is totally at odds with state and local definitions of transit-oriented development.

For example, California ADU Code 66322 prohibits local entities from requiring parking for tenants “where the accessory dwelling unit is located within one-half mile walking distance of public transit.” Clearly this establishes that the state considers one-half mile walking distance the appropriate measure of transit-oriented development.

To be eligible for California’s Transit-Oriented Housing Development Program, a project must be “within one-half mile from a Qualifying Transit Station… along a walkable route. The walkable route… shall be free of negative environmental conditions that deter pedestrian circulation, such as barriers; stretches without sidewalks or walking paths; noisy vehicular tunnels; streets, arterials or highways without regulated crossings that facilitate pedestrian movement; stretches without shade or cover; or stretches without lighted streets.”

In addition, San Diego adopted the following definition for transit access in its 2022 Transportation Study Manual:

“Access to transit is defined as transit being located within a reasonable walking distance (½ mile) from the project driveway.”

Finally, San Diego’s Draft 2024 Edition Street Design Manual defines Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) as 2,000 feet (0.38 miles) from transit:

“A mixed-used [sic] community within a typical 2,000-foot (600 m) walking distance of a transit stop and core commercial area. The design, configuration, and mix of uses emphasize a pedestrian-oriented environment and reinforce the use of public transportation without ignoring the role of the automobile.”

San Diego’s Transportation Study and Street Design Manuals concur that transit-oriented development is one-half mile or less from transit. This undermines the Planning Department’s unsupported contention that one-mile walking distance from existing or planned transit qualifies as transit-oriented development.

That’s why the bogus “Sustainable Development Area” should be deleted from San Diego Municipal Code. Instead, the “Transit Priority Area” should be updated to one-half mile walking distance from existing transit as the appropriate measure of transit-oriented development, consistent with city of San Diego, California, national and international standards, and plain old common sense!

Givot is vice chair of Neighbors For A Better San Diego and lives in El Cerrito.

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San Diego, CA

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

Published

4 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.

The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.

Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.

El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.

Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.

Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.

Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.

Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.

Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.

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San Diego, CA

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

Published

16 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.

“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.

So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.

With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.

The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.

Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”

One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.

“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”

Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.

Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.

“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.

As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.

Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”

Francis Parker High’s Jordan Brown shoots against Westview High during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.

The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.

“She’s a great player,” said Brown.

“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”

Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.

“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”

Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.

Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.

About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”

Francis Parker High's Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Francis Parker High’s Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.

Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.

“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.

Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.

“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”

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