SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — In accordance with California law, the City of San Diego is taking steps to begin an implementation plan that allows housing to be built near transit centers.

This comes after Senate Bill (SB) 79 has become state law, requiring cities to approve certain housing developments within a one-half-mile radius of transit stops—including bus and train stops. For San Diego, the only qualifying spots are Trolley Stops, according to an initial analysis from the City Planning Department.

The city shared that certain areas may be exempt from the rules due to barriers, canyons and freeways, the city shared. According to the city, the law’s requirements are already generally aligned with city policy and efforts to address housing affordability.

After passing an ordinance, the city will be able to begin implementation or exempt certain areas. The law takes effect in the city on July 1, but the city shared some areas may not be eligible for implementation.

A map by the City of San Diego reveals many areas within one-half-mile from a trolley stop may be exempt from the phased implantation.

Some, like former La Mesa City Councilmember Colin Parent, have criticized the possible map.

“The @CityofSanDiego is proposing to exempt itself from almost all of SB 79,” Parent said in a post on X.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Press Office reposted Parent’s social media post, sharing cities must meet the state’s housing goals.

“The City of San Diego has made significant progress in advancing housing production — and we appreciate their efforts,” a spokesperson from Newsom’s press office shared to FOX 5/KUSI. “We 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 isn’t going to cut it, nor will efforts that slow progress toward building more housing near transit and expanding access to affordable options.”

As part of SB 79, cities must submit their alternative plans to the California Department of Housing and Community for approval, the governor’s office added.

City leadership maintains they are complying with the law and taking their own efforts to address housing affordability.

“Compliance is what our hard-working pro-housing dept is doing,” Councilmember Joe LaCava said on social media. “Even facing HCD interpretations and rumored state amendments. For better or worse, it’s the law and we are complying.”

San Diego City Council is still in the early stages of addressing SB 79 implantation. The city confirmed the San Diego Planning Commission will review the proposed implementation plan on April 16.

Following review, the plan will head to city council to adopt an ordinance allowing phased implementation.

“Phasing the implementation of SB 79 would allow the City to 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,” a spokesperson for the City of San Diego shared.

In the upcoming months, the planning commission will consider factors such as fire safety, climate change resistance, equal distribution across the city, historic resources and neighborhood scale.

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