In a recent initiative to reclaim authority over housing decisions, the Del Mar City Council has become the fourth city in North County to support a proposed state ballot initiative titled Our Neighborhood Voices.
Last week, the Council voted in favor of the initiative, which seeks to amend the California constitution to empower local governments in matters of housing and land use, allowing them to supersede conflicting state laws.
The Our Neighborhood Voices campaign, backed by small city leaders across California, asserts that current state housing laws are exacerbating the affordability crisis rather than alleviating it.
According to their website, the group argues, “We are being sold a lie: that endless upzoning and luxury development will solve affordability. In truth, it fuels speculation, drives prices up, and pushes families out.”
Del Mar Councilmember Tracy Martinez and Mayor Terry Gaasterland presented the initiative to their fellow council members.
They highlighted the over 400 housing laws enacted by the state in the last eight years that have eroded local control over housing issues.
These state mandates compel city officials to authorize affordable housing projects that comply with legal standards, create and adhere to housing plans for all income levels, and permit larger developments if they include affordable housing.
Martinez expressed her commitment to affordable housing but emphasized the importance of maintaining the city’s unique community character.
“We’re advocates for that, but we’re also advocates of having accurate numbers and being able to maintain some of the things that are unique to this area… and that’s our community character, and I think that’s under assault as well,” she stated.
City officials argue that the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for Del Mar, which dictates the number of housing units the city must construct, has been inaccurately calculated due to the temporary and seasonal workers at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
The state housing department, in collaboration with SANDAG, determines RHNA figures for each county, which are subsequently distributed to individual cities.
Del Mar’s RHNA allocation consists of 163 units, the lowest in San Diego County, corresponding to the city’s status as the county’s smallest municipality.
Martinez criticized state housing laws for lacking incentives or requirements for low- or moderate-income housing, stating that naturally affordable units are often replaced by luxury developments that inflate regional rents.
In addition, both Martinez and Gaasterland highlighted the lack of state financial support for housing mandates, particularly for necessary infrastructure improvements and increased water supply.
The resolution to endorse the initiative passed unanimously with a 3-0 vote, with Councilmember Dan Quirk absent.
Encinitas also supports the initiative, with its new City Council, led by Mayor Bruce Ehlers, aiming to regain local control in the face of stringent state housing laws.
State Senator Catherine Blakespear, the former mayor of Encinitas, indicated that the sentiments expressed by cities like Encinitas are not reflected in Sacramento.
She noted a perspective among state lawmakers that cities require stricter regulations to reduce barriers to housing.
Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the state housing department have been known to pursue legal action against municipalities that evade state housing regulations.
As the discussions surrounding the ballot initiative unfold, the aim is to qualify it for the upcoming 2026 or 2028 election.
In a related ongoing housing issue, a lawsuit from the developers of the proposed Seaside Ridge project in Del Mar was recently dismissed by a San Diego judge.
For three years, the developers have sought approval for an affordable housing project located near Del Mar’s Dog Beach.
Despite being repeatedly rejected by the city, the developers argue that Del Mar does not have the discretion to deny the project under the state’s Builder’s Remedy law.
This law maintains that if a city fails to present an approved Housing Element by the time an affordable housing project is proposed, they cannot refuse approval.
At the time Seaside Ridge’s project was first proposed, Del Mar lacked an approved Housing Element.
In the recent ruling, the judge stated that the developer must exhaust all administrative avenues with the city before the courts could intervene.
Following this ruling, Seaside Ridge developers issued a letter to Del Mar officials demanding a decision on the project application within 60 days.
“If the city council approves Seaside Ridge – either by backing a positive recommendation by staff or by supporting our appeal of staff’s incomplete determination, then wonderful,” said spokesperson Darren Pudgil in the letter.
“If they don’t, then our lawsuit against Del Mar will move forward. Either way, after nearly three years of back and forth with city administration, we are owed a decision by the Del Mar City Council.”
The situation in Del Mar exemplifies the complex interplay between local control and state mandates, as city leaders seek solutions that reflect their community’s needs while navigating the stringent requirements set by state legislation.
In a concluding note, residents and stakeholders in North County are invited to join Voice of San Diego’s North County reporter on July 24 at the Escondido History Museum to discuss ongoing stories affecting the region.
As the housing debate continues, the urgency for viable solutions remains paramount.
image source from：voiceofsandiego
