Incentives should be offered for certain types of development and the focus should be on density around employment and transit centers. Some of the representatives on the committee from environmental organizations felt that we were far from achieving consensus, and had serious problems with some portions of the environmental section as submitted. Representatives from the Audubon Society, League of Conservation Voters, League of Women Voters, the Julian Planning Group, and the Sierra Club felt that the goal of environmental preservation got sidetracked by the pro-development faction of the Smart Growth effort. We felt it imperative to defend San Diego's unique natural resources, especially those in the back country, through the writing of an Alternative Report, which is included as part of the full Smart Growth report. Housing Study Team San Diego must provide balance in the types of housing available for the growing population while accommodating diverse environmental and economic needs.
Current plans call for housing production insufficient to meet future needs.
With rental vacancy rates low, overcrowding will also become an issue. Housing costs are high, creating a need for a broader range of cost choices. Government fees and construction defect litigation are two causes of high housing costs, among many. Barriers to quality density include lack of transit-oriented development and poor availability of land zoned for high density. Local opposition to development and a lack political will to enforce Smart Growth principles are barriers as well.