The San Diego City Council approved the Uptown Community Plan update after 4-1/2 hours of public testimony. The  council voted to scrap a proposed 2,000 unit downzone along with an 8-year old 'interim' height ordinance as recommended by the Planning Commission and scores of housing advocates including the Housing You Matters Coalition, business groups and property owners. The council also agreed to evaluate the 12-acre Gateway Specific Plan sought by property owners for potential future upzone.   

   The vote capped a hearing that kicked off with threats of litigation and recalls by opponents of the planning commission recommendations. in the end, the council voted 7-2 to adopt the plan that was 8-years in the making with councilmembers Alvarez and Lightner voting no.

   While voters cast their ballots a week ago, election officials are still working through nearly 500,000 uncounted votes. The ballots stem from mail and provisional ballots received on the day of or postmarked on election day. While the numbers won't effect most election results, it could tip the scales on close races such as the board of supervisors contest between Kristin Gaspar and Dave Roberts. GASPAR trails the District 3 incumbent by less than 1% with 490,000 countywide ballots yet to be processed. The same can be said in Carlsbad where incumbent Councilmember Lorraine Wood trails challenger Cori Shumacher by 45 votes. Needless to say, it promises to be a long 3-weeks for all close races as they wait for the registrar of voters office to complete its election tabulations by December 8th.