{"id":249724,"date":"2026-04-03T06:39:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T06:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/249724\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T06:39:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T06:39:12","slug":"san-diego-to-begin-process-implementing-state-housing-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/249724\/","title":{"rendered":"San Diego to begin process implementing state housing law"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">SAN DIEGO (FOX 5\/KUSI) \u2014\u00a0In accordance with\u00a0California law, the City of San Diego\u00a0is taking steps to\u00a0begin\u00a0an\u00a0implementation plan that\u00a0allows\u00a0housing\u00a0to be built near transit centers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This comes after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sandiego.gov\/planning\/work\/senate-bill-79\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Senate Bill (SB) 79;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Senate Bill (SB) 79&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Senate Bill (SB) 79<\/a> has become state law, requiring cities to\u00a0approve certain housing developments\u00a0within a one-half-mile radius of transit stops\u2014including bus and train stops. For San Diego,\u00a0the only qualifying spots are Trolley Stops, according to\u00a0an initial\u00a0analysis from the City Planning Department.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The city shared that certain areas may be exempt from the rules due to\u00a0barriers, canyons and freeways, the city shared. According to the city, the\u00a0law\u2019s\u00a0requirements are already\u00a0generally aligned with city policy\u00a0and efforts to address housing affordability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After passing an ordinance, the city will be able to begin implementation or\u00a0exempt\u00a0certain areas.\u00a0The law takes effect in the city on July 1, but the city shared some areas may not be eligible for implementation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A map by\u00a0the City of San Diego reveals many areas within one-half-mile\u00a0from a trolley stop\u00a0may be exempt from the phased\u00a0implantation.<\/p>\n<p><a data-ylk=\"ct:story;elm:img;itc:0;\" class=\"stretched-box\" href=\"https:\/\/fox5sandiego.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-02-210517.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"A map by the City of San Diego showing areas within one-half-mile of a trolley stop. (City of San Diego)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"594\" height=\"719\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c00cb4af32fa6d1401db1717612cffee.jpeg\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A map by the City of San Diego showing areas within one-half-mile of a trolley stop. (City of San Diego)<\/p>\n<p><a data-ylk=\"ct:story;elm:img;itc:0;\" class=\"stretched-box\" href=\"https:\/\/fox5sandiego.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-02-210825.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"A map by the City of San Diego showing areas within one-half-mile of a trolley stop and areas taking effect on July 1. (City of San Diego)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"583\" height=\"719\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bb09a8c26689b8ebef51c7ee08492621.jpeg\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A map by the City of San Diego showing areas within one-half-mile of a trolley stop and areas taking effect on July 1. (City of San Diego)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Some, like former La Mesa City Councilmember Colin Parent, have\u00a0criticized\u00a0the possible map.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe\u00a0@CityofSanDiego is proposing to exempt itself from almost all of SB 79,\u201d Parent said in a post on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ColinParent\/status\/2038714012259766426?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:X;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;X&quot;}\" class=\"link \">X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">California Governor Gavin Newsom\u2019s Press Office\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GovPressOffice\/status\/2039198496088338911?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:reposted;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;reposted&quot;}\" class=\"link \">reposted<\/a>\u00a0Parent\u2019s\u00a0social\u00a0media\u00a0post,\u00a0sharing cities must meet the state\u2019s housing goals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe City of San Diego has made significant progress in advancing housing production \u2014 and we appreciate their efforts,\u201d a spokesperson from Newsom\u2019s press office shared to FOX 5\/KUSI. \u201cWe expect San Diego, and all cities, to implement SB 79 in a manner that meets the moment and is consistent with that progress. The bare minimum\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0going to cut it, nor will efforts that slow progress toward building more housing near transit and expanding access to affordable options.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As part of SB 79, cities\u00a0must\u00a0submit\u00a0their alternative plans to the\u00a0California Department of Housing and Community for approval, the governor\u2019s office added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">City leadership\u00a0maintains\u00a0they are\u00a0complying with\u00a0the law and taking their own efforts to address housing affordability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cCompliance is what our hard-working pro-housing dept is doing,\u201d Councilmember Joe LaCava said on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/joe_lacava\/status\/2039416437253779833?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:social media;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;social media&quot;}\" class=\"link \">social media<\/a>. \u201cEven facing HCD interpretations and rumored state amendments. For better or worse,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0the law and we are complying.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">San Diego City Council is still in the\u00a0early stages\u00a0of addressing SB 79 implantation.\u00a0The city confirmed the San Diego Planning Commission will review\u00a0the proposed implementation plan on April 16.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Following review, the plan will head to city council to adopt\u00a0an ordinance allowing phased implementation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cPhasing the implementation of SB 79 would allow the\u00a0City\u00a0to fully evaluate where additional homes should be allowed and provide opportunities for the public to share their thoughts on how to best implement SB 79,\u201d a spokesperson for the City of San Diego shared.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the upcoming months, the planning commission\u00a0will consider factors such as fire safety, climate change resistance, equal distribution across the city,\u00a0historic\u00a0resources\u00a0and neighborhood scale.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fox5sandiego.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego &amp; KUSI News.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego &amp;amp&quot;}\" class=\"link \"> For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego &amp; KUSI News. <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SAN DIEGO (FOX 5\/KUSI) \u2014\u00a0In accordance with\u00a0California law, the City of San Diego\u00a0is taking steps to\u00a0begin\u00a0an\u00a0implementation plan that\u00a0allows\u00a0housing\u00a0to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":249725,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[3501,12055,111252,111251,111253,74,76,75],"class_list":{"0":"post-249724","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-california-law","9":"tag-housing-affordability","10":"tag-housing-developments","11":"tag-implementation-plan","12":"tag-la-mesa-city-councilmember-colin-parent","13":"tag-san-diego","14":"tag-san-diego-headlines","15":"tag-san-diego-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249724"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249724\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}