The chair of the committee of representatives from each of the 50 participating community planning groups had this to say about the much awaited new growth plan. " The plan has these wonderful platitudes but on every page you should be hitting the cash register", as quoted in the Union Tribune in a March article.
I am sure as a road map that the New Growth Plan will have much to like and maybe even some things to dislike depending on what your personal perspective might be. But one thing is certain, without a plan, most cities would flounder till there is one and the San Diego city council both now and the one that will be seated in the Fall, after the next election, at least will have a blue print for the possibilities that exist for San Diego.
Some of the main categories that will be addressed in the plan are:
Land Use and Community Planning - this incorporates the "City of Villages" strategy and recognizes the 50 communities that make up San Diego. As a side note, the next time you are asked how many communities make up San Diego, at least you will know the answer to the riddle. Moving on,
Mobility - This part of the plan addresses all forms of transportation,even to include walking, its infrastructure goals and a plan that will ultimately enhance the land use.
Public Facilities - this addresses the deferred maintenance and upgrading of the capital improvements. As you might guess, this is an area that is going to require special new funding. We all understand the importance of this aspect of the plan. Just like in our homes, deferred maintenance can be costly and tends to depreciate our values, if we don't get a handle on it. Getting a handle on it can seem overwhelming and very costly but must be done. The city is likely going to be faced with targeting new taxes, special assessment districts and floating new longer term bond issues for funding.
Conservation - this will consist of a complex assortment of ideas and plans to cover areas like protecting open spaces, canyons, beaches and waterways. It should not be surprising in light of the global warming fascination, that it will also include creating new " green" standards for buildings, both commercial, public and residential.
Recreation - A plan to enhance and actually increase the amount of neighborhood parkland. It will also propose a city wide Master Plan for parkland, both for the improvements of existing parks and for future acquisitions of new designated parks. The sustaining of the beauty of the city with green space , play areas and parks is essential for the moniker of " Americas Finest City".
And last but not least,
Economic Prosperity - This part of the plan will include the recommendation for new citywide policies designed to preserve prime industrial lands for special industries that export services and technologies.These would necessarily include Biotechnology,Telecoms and Defense. There was a time when defense was our main export. After the last recession in the early 90's, we learned a valuable lesson and today San Diego has a much better mix of industries that serve our employment base. That requires new allocation of lands to continually attract those industries to our city, providing employment.
The current planning commission chairman likely said it best that this new plan will play a key role in preserving the unique character of the many communities that make up San Diego. The plan further looks to enhance the " quality of life" throughout San Diego. I couldn't agree more and anxiously await being able to report to you the specifics in hopes of capturing your imagination. With all the issues that San Diego has had to deal with the last few years, many feel its luster may have been tarnished. I say not and our new road map will certainly help to guarantee that America's finest city certainly remains so for the distant future.
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Wonderful plan. Is there a price tag attached to this ambitious effort?
Hi Lenn, Regretably that won't come for maybe up to 6 months. I am sure with the plan specifics and the price tag when it comes, people will be agast. They shouldn't be. For a city this big and spread out over 50 some communities that make it up, and the continuing increase in population, we all need to understand the need to pay the piper. Aside for the usual waste in governement, the real services and the infrstracture for the future needs to be recognised. Tending to being a conservative by nature, I am still gauled that so many want and twist the arms of government to provide but when it comes to the cost, they shreik and run the other way. Any city worth it's salt must be diligent to conserve but shouldn't be bashful in reminding it's citizens the real cost of what they demand.
It is always wonderful to hear from you. Thank you for reading this and for your great question.
Great overview, William. It WILL be interesting to see what all this costs, and where the money will come from. I'm glad to hear about a formal plan - something not all cities tackle very well. Given the growth we have seen, and expect for the future, this sort of planning is key, and in the nearby communities as well. It sounds similar to Carlsbad's Smart Growth Plan that has been in place for years now.
Jeff
Hi Jeff, When I was an officer at SDAR, we would get regular reports on the discussions points and some of the meetings were in fact public. I was fascinated to listen to the intensity of the players and actually quite pleased that so many committed people were involved with input.
Now that we have the plan out there, it will be interesting to see how soon it can implemented and what parts will just not get the attention. I am an optimist ( not always a popular position where the individual communities are concerned)and believe we have the muster to get this underway. The COSTS ?, I would expect some pretty astounding numbers given the rules for engagement that the council already settled some time ago.
I am still hopeful with a good plan and some committed leaders , we will get this underway and help this city to shine up its front door.
My sons who is in A School in Port Huame is coming to San Diego this weekend, his girlfriend who he met in Nashville parents live there, Can't wait to hear all about it.
Hi Missy, Sounds like you could have a possibility to a more permanent San Diego connection. Your son may also fall in love with San Diego and then you will want to make more regular visits. Watch out , if the weather holds as planned, it will be beautiful this weekend. The pictures , should he take some will be really special this time of year as everything has greened up and the whole place is totally beautiful. Warm and Sunny is the forecast.
William, I can't believe how much San Diego has grown since I went to UCSD many moons ago. 50 Communities! This plan sounds comprehensive. It is so important to have a plan like this in place. Here in NC they let growth go crazy for about 10-15 years and are just now addressing the infrastructure problems, traffic and future planning.
Hi Diane, San Diego has really grown and continues to do. I read a report this morning about the natural and annual migration from San Diego. With a housing issue at the forefront of all the news, instead of people leaving Southern California in droves, the migration from here is slowed dramatically. I guess it is because they can't sell theirs homes quite as easily as in the past.
When the details of the Growth Plan are made public, it should be a great new post to share. States have a tendency as do most cities to ultimately "react" to the natural/unnatural growth and expansion. I use that word " react" as opposed to the better choice of action " respond".
For most states and even the cities , it is usually akin to chasing its own tail. Planning usually comes well after the need for it and then of course the choices are limited. But there is always the failsafe as we have seen, simply react with more taxes to fix what should never have been allowed to break.
Wouldn't be wonderful for once in out lives to find leadership in government that understood how to anticipate the hearts and minds and the expansion plans of its citizenry. I suggest no such person exits nor would serve if found. I guess that sums it up. HUh? We are destined to just repeat our past over and over, ad nausem.
So nice to see you on and so appreciate your comments and shared experience.
Hi William..well it sounds like they were able to break it down into managable groups! What committee were you on?
Hi Joan, none of the above. But I did receive regular updates of the progress as these committees reported progress.