BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - LAND USE - 2025-11-19
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors held a housing workshop on 2025-11-19 to discuss housing and land use policies in the unincorporated county, reviewing the Development Feasibility Analysis (DFA) findings. The board unanimously approved staff recommendations to continue work on housing initiatives. Key discussion centered on unlocking 58,000 units of existing general plan capacity, with supervisors prioritizing zoning ordinance updates to align with the 2011 general plan's village-focused development model. No specific zoning changes or development projects were voted on during this workshop session.
Key Decisions (1)
Housing Forward Workshop Staff Recommendations
Board unanimously approved staff recommendations from the Housing Forward workshop discussing housing and land use policies, Development Feasibility Analysis findings, and related CEQA exemption. The approval directs staff to continue work on housing initiatives including VMT mitigation program, inclusionary housing ordinance, sustainable land use framework, and zoning ordinance updates.
Development Activity (3)
County Housing Pipeline
Over 4,000 housing units currently in discretionary permit process actively pursuing permits. 58,000 units of remaining capacity under existing general plan. DFA identified 6,700 potential units in four study areas (Buena Creek, Lakeside, Valle De Oro/Casa De Oro, Spring Valley).
County Affordable Housing Portfolio
$390 million in financing supporting over 9,500 units housing more than 20,000 individuals annually. Current pipeline of 33 developments totaling 2,859 units either under construction or beginning construction soon. Includes $112 million from Innovative Housing Trust Fund since 2017 supporting over 3,000 units.
San Ysidro Community Land Trust Project
103 units of affordable rental housing for 30-60% AMI income earners with rent-to-own pathway. Built under project labor agreement with county Innovative Housing Trust Fund support.
Market Signals (6)
Housing Demand
Approximately 20% of San Diego County residents spend more than 50% of income on housing; median home price approaching $900,000 pricing many residents out of homeownership.
Housing Demand
Average asking rent in San Diego County is $2,479 per month; over 47,000 workers commute from Riverside to San Diego for work due to housing shortage.
Commercial Demand
DFA found market conditions do not support higher density development over 20 units per acre; townhomes and small lot detached at 10-15 units per acre are more feasible product types.
Infrastructure
83% of unincorporated area is within high and very high fire hazard severity zones, triggering mandatory building code requirements and affecting development feasibility.
Sentiment
Board supervisors expressed strong consensus on prioritizing zoning ordinance updates to align with general plan village designations as foundational to unlocking housing development.
Housing Demand
ADUs represent 45% of total permitted housing units in 2024, up from 21% in 2021, indicating shift toward smaller-scale housing production.