Weakened Zoning Plan Approved

San Diego City Council members adopted a watered-down zoning measure intended to save schools, hospitals, churches, museums, parks, golf courses and other public facilities from destruction or sale until the city or local property owners have a chance at acquiring the property.

The weakened version of the Institutional Overlay Zone will apply only to publicly owned property, such as government offices, parks and schools.

However, the door was left ajar to include private institutions that receive funds from the city, state or federal governments. The council voted, 7-1, to order a Planning Department study of a proposed amendment to the zone to include such agencies.

The ordinance did not place any specific sites under the restrictions. That will be determined at future hearings.

Under the ordinance, the institution would be required to delay any redevelopment or sale until the city or the community has had a chance to acquire the property.

The San Diego Unified School District’s plans to sell six abandoned school sites sparked efforts to impose the overlay zone, to ensure that neighbors of such sites would be notified of the district’s plans.