Save Our Access is here to protect our Coast
Save Our Access is in the news!
Why
The initiative that the city placed on the ballot is designed to privatize 700 acres of prime coastal public land. Save Our Access believes this land should stay forever in the public land and be used to increase public access to the coast.
In San Diego, the public has continuously lost land that they own to developers as our elected officials have given them away in exchange for special favors. Today the City of San Diego has placed on the ballot an initiative to rid a coastal area that lies between San Diego two bays of a voter-approved 30 foot height limit. This initiative was created by San Diegans to protect San Diego's low density, non-commercial coastline that has allowed the most citizens to enjoy this special coast.
A Looming Environmental Disaster
The NAVWAR site (which sits next to interstate 5 across from Old Town) site plan is what San Diego City Hall has lobbied for. On 76 acres, 109 buildings up to 32 stories high with 10,000 residential units is proposed. With 2 people living in each residential unit, 20,000 people would create a population approximately that of Coronado.
City Hall has long said that the development of our public land would be the model for the entire community. Taking that density over the entire Midway community would result in 150,000 - 250,000 residents!
Our mission
Save Our access was formed to stand up for the public and defend our ownership of coastal public lands and our right to access our beaches and coast. We believe that these lands are a priceless national treasure that should be utilized for the greatest benefit and enjoyment of all citizens.
Our history
In 2020, we came together to help inform the public of proposed plans to give away public lands and rights by the city of San Diego.
The city targeted the Sports Arena, MIDWAY, MCRD and NAVWAR areas for this scheme.
This would greatly impact our quality of life and ability to access our coastal region.
Where we are at
We have the opportunity for a better alternative because Save Our Access sued the city the last time they put a vote to lift the 30' height limit on the ballot.
The city did not do an environmental review likely because they did not want the public to see the Manhattan level density planned for our land. Save Our Access won and the city rushed to again place this issue on the ballot.
This gives us a choice for a better alternative.
If the City is successful in getting the 30' height limit lifted, all public lands would eventually disappear. The right to build high rises on the property would transfer to developers - a gift worth $billions in profit.
The public would get nothing in return.
Those who would most suffer would be the working class who would see access to the beaches restricted due to traffic congestion and a lack of parking in the coastal region.
Public resources should be used for the highest and best use which benefits the most amount of citizens. The city's plans for a jungle of high rises with a few affordable housing units sprinkled in would benefit a few at the expense of millions.
Please join Save Our Access' effort to expand the beauty and accessibility to our priceless coast.