San Diego residents are taking legal action against the city’s Democrat leadership for what they claim is a failure to address the environmental impact of revised Transit Priority Areas. The Livable San Diego group has filed a lawsuit claiming the city failed to consider feasible alternatives and mitigation when changing building requirements to allow developers to construct higher and with less parking. The group alleges that the changes have exacerbated homelessness and traffic, with Transit Priority Housing making it harder for the average person in the city to own their mode of transportation.
In January of this year, the city voted to change Transit Priority Areas to Sustainable Development Areas and extended the distance from transit stops from half of a mile to one mile, potentially opening up thousands of acres of land to new apartments and Accessory Dwelling Units. The city argued that this would help reduce emissions as part of its Climate Action Plan, but Livable San Diego claims the sweeping changes to the building code were made without the necessary review of environmental impacts.
The group’s attorneys are calling for all prior approvals of developments under the Sustainable Development Area program to be vacated, and for the city to address any and all environmental issues before granting any new permits.
San Diego’s Democrat leadership is accused of prioritizing their own agenda over environmental awareness and the well-being of their citizens. The city is facing a growing homeless crisis, traffic congestion, and environmental issues, with the Livable San Diego lawsuit bringing attention to the potential consequences of prioritizing Transit Priority Housing over the needs of the city’s residents. As the lawsuit proceeds, it will be interesting to see whether San Diego’s leadership will be held accountable for their policies and whether the city will move towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
Image Credit: Canva
