San Diego : Ballot Measure Seeks to Limit Lot Sizes

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to place on the ballot in June, 1994, an initiative that would limit lot sizes in Cleveland National Forest to 40 acres as a way of blocking or curtailing development.

The supervisors asked the county’s staff to investigate the legal ramifications of adopting the measure as a resolution, however, which the board could do before the issue comes to a vote.

“Specifically, the measure would require the ‘downzoning’ of all lands within the confines of the boundaries of (the forest), unless they’re located inside existing country towns, such as Pine Valley, Descanso and Guatay,” said Bill Healy, deputy director of planning for the county.

Healy said most of the land within the forest is publicly owned, “although a major portion is privately held,” which led anti-development forces to pursue such a ballot initiative.