Editordude: Any time a sitting San Diego city councilmember comes out and publicly defends the famous 30-foot height limit, it's newsworthy. Here Councilmember Joe LaCava does that and we wanted to give some public props to the La Jollan.
The coastal height limit is a reflection of San Diego’s identity -- The City Council should not support the state's push to break the rule
By Joe LaCava / San Diego U-T Op-Ed / July 22, 2024
The will of the voters in the city of San Diego is absolute. In 1972, residents took to the ballot box to limit the height of new buildings in the coastal area west of Interstate 5 to 30 feet. The measure passed citywide, withstood legal challenges, and has been recognized by the city and its residents ever since. No city, state or developer has the authority to reverse the will of San Diego voters without seeking a vote by the public.
San Diego’s 30-foot coastal height limit symbolizes a commitment to preserving the city’s coastal access and differentiating our valued shoreline from walled-off cities like Miami. The height limit is not only a regulatory restriction but a reflection of San Diego’s identity. The city does not, and legally cannot, allow exemptions to the people’s vote. Bureaucratic exceptions to this standard undermine both the democratic process and the confidence of voters. They circumvent voter-approved measures and disregard a charter city’s autonomy.
Editordude: Any time a sitting San Diego city councilmember comes out and publicly defends the famous 30-foot height limit, it's newsworthy. Here Councilmember Joe LaCava does that and we wanted to give some public props to the La Jollan.
The coastal height limit is a reflection of San Diego’s identity -- The City Council should not support the state's push to break the rule
By Joe LaCava / San Diego U-T Op-Ed / July 22, 2024
The will of the voters in the city of San Diego is absolute. In 1972, residents took to the ballot box to limit the height of new buildings in the coastal area west of Interstate 5 to 30 feet. The measure passed citywide, withstood legal challenges, and has been recognized by the city and its residents ever since. No city, state or developer has the authority to reverse the will of San Diego voters without seeking a vote by the public.
San Diego’s 30-foot coastal height limit symbolizes a commitment to preserving the city’s coastal access and differentiating our valued shoreline from walled-off cities like Miami. The height limit is not only a regulatory restriction but a reflection of San Diego’s identity. The city does not, and legally cannot, allow exemptions to the people’s vote. Bureaucratic exceptions to this standard undermine both the democratic process and the confidence of voters. They circumvent voter-approved measures and disregard a charter city’s autonomy.