City Fights To Get Rid Of Prop. J
(Voting time is just around the corner, and that means a lot of issues dealing with real estate and housing could show up on ballots across San Diego County.)
One proposition is already making the news as city officials are trying to get rid of it before it even appears on the November ballot.
Proposition J, an initiative proposed by citizens of Coronado, looks to increase the minimum lot size on which single-family homes can be built on in some areas of San Diego.
Now, the city has started a lawsuit to try and abolish the proposition because they say that some parts of it are illegal.
A September 15, 2006 article by Janine Zuniga of The San Diego Union Tribune, “Coronado battling to remove Prop. J,” takes a look into the battle that is about to begin surrounding the initiative.
“Proposition J asks voters to increase the minimum lot size on which single-family homes can be built in certain areas of the city. Proponents say the measure will prevent developers from tearing down a small house in certain areas and replacing it with two or more tall, narrow homes. The city seeks to take the measure off the Nov. 7 ballot or remove parts it considers ‘illegal and unenforceable’”
The proposition aims to increase the single-family lot size from 3,500 square feet to 5,250 square feet.
The lots that would be affected by the proposal are dispersed in different neighborhoods and communities throughout the city, but most are in Coronado.
Story Vogel is a Coronado resident who is one of the proponents behind Prop. J and says there are various reasons why the proposition should stay on the ballot.
He sites an example of a home near his residence as a perfect example of why this proposition is important.
“The single-family home was demolished this week, and plans have been submitted to subdivide the 7,000-square-foot lot and build two homes. Vogel said that type of development is increasing density, traffic and parking problems in the city. Vogel, who is named in the lawsuit, said developers build the maximum size allowed, destroying the character of the neighborhood. He has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit.”
The city has found multiple rules and regulations that it believes the proposition is in violation of. To summarize, opponents of Prop. J say:
“The measure will increase density in other parts of the city to compensate for the loss of new homes in the areas the initiative targets. They say the measure also will violate property rights and reduce property values.”
“Is unenforceable because it requires lots to be merged to comply with the new larger size requirement. The lawsuit states that the initiative illegally attempts to impose a larger minimum lot size on lawfully sized parcels.”
People such as Vogel want Prop. J so builders and developers can not tear down older homes to put two newer homes on one lot.
“If the initiative is successful, it could spark a battle that ultimately ends up before the Supreme Court. No one has challenged the 2002 state law that essentially increased the level of state involvement in local planning.”
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