San Diego

An emergency ordinance setting a 90-day moratorium on construction of buildings taller than 30 feet in the uptown community plan area was approved Monday by the City Council.

Within 90 days, a permanent plan setting building height limits in the uptown area is expected to be completed by the city staff.

Iris Crisman of the city Planning Department said a permanent height limit “will provide time necessary to ensure that land development in the Mission Hills area will occur in an orderly manner . . . The hillsides of this area provide some of the most exceptional views to be found in the western portion of San Diego. These hillsides should be preserved for residents and visitors alike . . .

“By allowing development of considerable bulk and height, there can be no assurance of balance and compatibility of the new development with existing development.”

The area where the moratorium will be in effect includes both sides of San Diego Avenue between Washington Street on the south and Sunset Boulevard, Alameda Terrace and Torrance Street on the north.