Northern City Developments : S.D. Council OKs Miramar Ranch Project, Delays Two Others

Only one of three massive development plans for northern areas of the city gained approval from the San Diego City Council at a special Thursday session dealing with the the pains of urban growth.

Miramar Ranch North, a 1,950-acre planned community north of Lake Miramar and east of Interstate 15, won unanimous approval from the council after the developers, BCE Development (formerly Daon), reached compromise agreements with Scripps Ranch community groups. The agreements call for lowered residential densities and a commitment by the company to contribute $30 million toward school, road, park and utility needs before beginning construction.

During eight months of negotiations, BCE pared its plans for 5,689 housing units--a number that was 40% more than what was permitted by the area’s community plan--to 4,650 homes and an industrial park.

County Parcel Proposal

A proposal for a 1,500-unit housing development on an adjoining 385-acre county island that would be annexed by the city was not so lucky. After close questioning of attorneys for the developers and spokesmen for opponents of the project, the council ordered the two sides back into discussions with city staff members to iron out their differences on roads, proposed grading, developer fees and density issues.

The decision on the county island proposal was delayed until after June 22, when the council is scheduled to adopt an emergency interim ordinance restricting development citywide until the city’s growth-management plan is revamped.

Also delayed until after June 22 was approval of the University City community plan, which includes the fast-growing Golden Triangle area east of La Jolla between Interstates 5 and 805. The City Council rescheduled consideration of the plan for July 7 after hearing two hours of debate that featured clashes between the University Community Planning Group and major landowners over development restrictions, which planners say are needed to control the growing traffic congestion.