Growth Panel Deadlocks Over ‘Sensitive Lands’ Plan

Stymied by a deadlock between developers and environmentalists on a key subcommittee, the advisory panel mapping San Diego’s growth plan postponed a decision Wednesday on a measure designed to protect hillsides, wetlands and waterways.

The Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Growth and Development agreed to continue discussion of the so-called “sensitive lands” part of its plan, even though the six members negotiating the provisions conceded that they are deadlocked on several crucial points.

“I don’t think we’re going to get a great deal closer,” said Lynn Benn, one of three environmentalists on the subcommittee.

The advisory panel is drawing up a plan governing city growth that the San Diego City Council intends to place before voters in November. A sensitive lands component is seen as crucial to the overall plan’s chances of victory because a competing growth plan contains language protecting environmentally sensitive lands.

Known as the Quality of Life Initiative, that slow-growth measure is sponsored by a citizens organization and has already qualified for the November ballot. As now written, both growth plans call for caps on home building.

Developers and environmentalists are deadlocked on a provision that defines the kinds of hillsides to be protected and language that describes which projects already planned would be allowed to proceed under the new plan. Developers are seeking language that would allow more building than environmentalists consider desirable.

The advisory panel did approve other measures calling for traffic management, regional planning and preservation of neighborhood character. The City Council is scheduled to continue its review of the plan Monday.