San Diego Revamps Land Development Code

SAN DIEGO -- For the first time in 40 years, the City of San Diego has a completely new Land Development Code, which became effective on January 1, 2000, and is applicable to all projects submitted in the new year. The code received final approvals by the City Council in September and the California Coastal Commission in November.

A combined partnership of citizen groups, the public, the Planning Commission, the City Council and City staff members spent the past eight years editing and rewriting the old Zoning Code, and creating a new one.

"We are convinced that the new code will eliminate considerable confusion and contradictions and be more 'user friendly' by reorganizing the regulations, using clearer language, adding more graphics and reducing total pages," said Linda Johnson, the code's program manager. "In addition, this new code is more flexible, addresses specific site constraints, and regulates bulk and scale issues much more effectively."

The new code language is reduced from more than 1,200 printed pages to less than 900, definitions are now in a single section, and simple illustrations are used where concepts are difficult to explain in words or where they help users to better understand a regulation.

Discretionary permit types have been reduced from more than 20 in the former code, to only seven in the new one.

The new code is now available by calling (619) 446-5100 to order, or on the WorldWide Web at http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/

For more information, call Planning and Development Review Information and Application Services at (619) 446-5000.
-----
Contact: Linda Johnson, City of San Diego Planning and
Development Review Department, (619) 446-5243.