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.

San Diego’s housing crisis is undeniable, and addressing our region’s lack of affordable homes is critical. Affordable, income-restricted housing belongs in every neighborhood and council district, and the coastal communities are no exception. My position is not a statement of merit but of process. We must and can do this right. We can produce and plan developments that also respect voter mandates, or proponents can seek the support of the electorate to modify the 1972 ballot measure.

Adhering to voter-approved measures not only ensures the preservation of our city’s identity and the democratic process, it also fosters public trust, encourages community participation, and promotes sustainable and affordable development. As an elected leader of the San Diego City Council, I am responsible to my district and voters citywide. I ensure that the development plans I vote on adhere to planning standards, safeguard environmental integrity, preserve the community’s voice, and maintain voters’ trust. Oversight and adherence to voter-approved measures are non-negotiable as we pursue sustainable and affordable development — until the voters say otherwise.

Next week, City Council will hear a proposal for funding for an affordable residential infill project located within the city’s Coastal Height Limit Overlay Zone on Garnet Avenue. At five stories tall, this proposal will breach the 30-foot limit. On its face, this is a smart use of otherwise underutilized property, however, greater than 30 feet is greater than 30 feet. For more than 50 years, this project would not have been attempted nor approved. That is until California’s Department of Housing and Community Development gave the go-ahead to move forward, and San Diego voters were damned in the process.

What of the need for affordable housing? *In 2021 the applicant presented a Prop D-compliant design to the Pacific Beach Planning Group. I have since learned that the applicant never intended to build that version and always intended to pursue a Prop D-busting 5-story design. This “bait and switch” was never disclosed to the planning group nor in their applications to the San Diego Housing Commission and the City of San Diego.

The motivations behind the housing department’s unilateral direction may be noble, but, in San Diego, we have elections, voter-approved measures, and an amendment process. Take, for instance, the passage of Measure C in 2022 that lifted the 30-foot height limit for the Midway neighborhood. I twice supported putting this reasonable proposal before the voters to amend the height limit in an area that could produce thousands of new homes and jobs. The city is now using this voter-approved amendment to bring forward one of the largest affordable developments in San Diego.

There was a process for the Midway proposal then, and there remains a process now for Garnet.

As we continue proposals to increase housing options across the city, conversations between all active parties must find common ground. Community advocates, elected leaders, developers, and stakeholders can collectively lay out a future for San Diego that upholds the voice of voters and our shared commitment to crafting housing solutions that benefit all residents, both present and future.

Next week, I will vote to uphold the integrity of the voters and the constituents who elected me. The city can and will increase housing citywide, yet it must be done correctly– respecting the will of the voters and maintaining the public’s confidence in the process.

*Note: This editorial has been updated since publication.