San Diego

San Diego city school trustees Tuesday put off a decision on whether to impose an immediate moratorium on “letters of school availability” that the district issues to developers who want to build residential projects in the city’s growth areas.

The trustees are scheduled to act on two proposals to impose a moratorium until Dec. 31.

A proposal made by trustee Larry Lester would halt letters for developers who want to build in Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch. A second proposal by Supt. Tom Payzant would apply to the city’s six growth areas: Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, North University City, North Miramar Ranch, Tierrasanta and South Bay Terraces.

The ban is intended to slow population growth now swelling some district schools, particularly in Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch. In recent years, the school district has automatically given the letters to developers upon receiving notice that the builders would pay fees to the district.

Developers cannot get the City Council’s permission to build without the letters, which show that the school district has room for the students who will live in the new projects.

The moratorium would delay the award of letters for seven projects comprising a total of 952 single-family units and 6,320 multifamily units, school district officials said Tuesday. Five of the projects are in Mira Mesa, a sixth is in Tierrasanta and one is in North University City.