In response to San Diego’s current housing shortfall and related socio-economic conditions, the City Council has approved several changes to the city’s existing Complete Communities infill development initiative. These changes are designed to spur additional construction of qualifying projects that are designed to take advantage of new building incentives.

Prompting this latest action was a report to the San Diego City Council in late 2023. Staff cautioned City Council members that the City’s current anemic rate of new residential construction could risk the loss of community members to areas outside of San Diego, creating longer commuting distances and making it more difficult for local businesses to attract and retain high quality employees. It is no secret that the City of San Diego continues to fall short of its state-mandated goal of 108,000 new dwelling units before 2029.

Ordinance (O-2024-41), which is referred to as the Housing Action Package HAP 2.0, or “HAP 2.0,” includes 10 specific amendments to the City’s Municipal Code. HAP 2.0 aims to implement state law to spur new construction of residential units near transit sites, and increase the supply of properties for much-needed multi-family residential development by creating various development incentives.

The new ordinance supplements the Complete Communities program that was passed by the City Council in 2020, which already includes by-right development of projects with greater density in certain locations. HAP 2.0 provides new density bonuses and incentives for favored project types, and removes or provide waivers of certain development requirements included in the original Complete Communities program.

Among other benefits, HAP 2.0 provides for the following new changes:

1. Significant changes allowing for low-income housing to be built in a separate location from market-rate housing, if certain requirements are met.
2. New exemptions allowing for the waiver of private exterior open space requirements in certain instances, a waiver of Development Impact Fees for qualifying projects, and a variety of density bonuses for qualifying projects.
3. Removal of parking minimums for new residential and commercial developments within Transit Parking Areas.
4. Modifications to the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Home Density Bonus program to incentivize the development of ADUs that meet accessibility requirements.

Of course, the changes brought about by HAP 2.0 come with many exceptions, limitations and complexities, but should nevertheless spur construction of qualifying projects in the years ahead.