16 Proposed Changes to the County Zoning Ordinance?

Susan Heavilin
4 hours ago
5 min read

Like a train barreling down the tracks toward us, it's coming. Fast. Strong. Seemingly impossible to stop.

But it can be done.

Together we can get this train turned around or at least headed down a different track. It will take a lot of pushback from us.

And what does this train represent you ask? Density changes.

You can see where this train has already arrived . . . Downtown, East Village, Little Italy, North Park, Hillcrest, Bankers Hill, Mission Valley, San Marcos (North City), Chula Vista, Otay Ranch, Serra Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa . . . and on and on. Nearly everywhere you look, you see massive multi-story complexes going up.

But our area is already built you say. There's no room for big, high-density mid-rise and high-rise apartment construction. Or high-density large-scale residential multi-building complexes. That's what the communities listed above thought, too, and then the train arrived.

They refer to them as "infill projects" or "infill density."

Have you been watching all the webinars the County is offering in lieu of community meetings? You probably didn't even know they were going on (unless you read Sunnyside Common Sense). They were usually scheduled at 5pm when you were driving home from work or getting dinner ready for the kiddos. But infill density was present in every one of them as they checked off the boxes to get to where they needed to be.

And now we're there.

And for all legal purposes, you were told (in the webinars). And if you weren't watching, it doesn't matter because the information was presented.

What Does "Infill Density" Mean?

Infill density is the process of increasing the intensity of land use inside existing neighborhoods rather than expanding outward on the city fringe. Infill density ranges from small additions like backyard cottages (Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs) and duplexes to townhomes, mid-rise apartments, and mixed-use commercial blocks.

We've already been "allowed" to build ADUs on our properties. And now we're being "allowed" to sell them individually as condos. Pay attention people. They're using our greed (of selling our ADUs to make money) to satisfy their greed, a lot more parcels for a lot more property taxes. This is just the beginning.

Have You Been Paying Attention?

Back before 2012, the department was called Planning & Land Use. In May of 2012, the County supervisors voted to merge the old Department of Planning and Land Use with "land-use functions and staff from the Department of Public Works and the Department of Parks and Recreation to streamline the permitting process." It was renamed the Department of Planning & Development.

By September of 2012, the Planning & Development Services "officially opened its doors and consolidated operations".

In the past 14 years, development in the unincorporated areas across San Diego County has grown leaps and bounds.

The purpose stated in the change was "to streamline the permitting process." For who? Was this step taken to help out residents building one new home or developers creating high-rise apartments everywhere you look that no one seems able to afford.

The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS) sent an email out yesterday—August 26, 2026— discussing how they were "cleaning up" the old ordinances but they're actually creating room to build.

What the "Cleanup" Includes

According to the email, the County is proposing 19 new amendments! Nineteen!

16 proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance
1 proposed amendment to the Regulatory Code
2 proposed amendments to the Administrative Code

Highlights of What’s Changing

Clearer zoning definitions and rules
Updated Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Junior ADU rules consistent with State law
Modernized density bonus rules and student/senior housing incentives
Simplified parking requirements, including shared parking options
More straightforward rules for accessory structures and greenhouses
New formal process for Nonconforming Zoning Verification Letters
Updated solar energy system rules aligned with State requirements
Clarified references and processes for private development projects
Removal of outdated fee waivers and addition of new fees for Nonconforming Zoning Verification Letters

You'll notice that many of these changes hinge on aligning with State requirements. Have you been happy with what they've done to California in the last twenty years? Somewhere along this timeline, the Government has forgotten that they work for us.

Watch Their Virtual Community Webinars

This is their "we informed the public" part of the project. Thankfully, they are offering a variety of times so you may be able to watch one of the presentations.

PDS will host three (3) virtual Community Webinars to present the draft amendments and receive input. All Community Webinars will include the same information and opportunities for questions and comments.

Please join us at a Community Webinar using one of the links below: 
- When: Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 7 PM to 8 PM
- Where: Virtual Meeting (Zoom)
- When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 6 PM to 7 PM
- Where: Virtual Meeting (Zoom)
- When: Thursday, September 10, 2026, 12 PM to 1 PM
- Where: Virtual Meeting (Zoom)

This Doesn't Affect Me

Think again. This affects everyone who lives in the County of San Diego. You are incorrect if you're thinking your neighborhood is already built out. No one is safe from infill density.

They've already done a number on the urban areas. Not they're coming for the unincorporated areas. It's written in their paperwork.

So what could they do that's different from right now?

They can shatter your quiet community into a zillion parcels by allowing all ADUs to become independent "condos" and be sold. (We're at this stage right now.)
They can rezone your property (and neighborhood) and throw all new rules at you.
They can purchase the property next to you, remove the structure and build whatever (right up to your property line).
They can add density infill and instead of a quiet animal sanctuary behind you, you could end up with thirty plus new neighbors.

Why Would They Do This?

The answer is almost always the same . . . money. How can money be removed from your pocket and put into theirs? It's obvious that we will receive no benefit from this.

Bit by bit, they're checking off the boxes and moving through the steps.

Then they'll leave town—like carpetbaggers—with all the money and you're left with a different neighborhood than you originally moved into . . . with a lot less peace and quiet.

What Can I Do?

The County is saying that they want our feedback. By all means, I think that we should give it to them.

Public Comments on the Draft Amendments will be accepted until September 25, 2026, at 5 PM.

There are two ways to communicate with the County on this topic:

Submit directly on the project Engage webpage by selecting [Comment on the Current Cleanup]. This one allows you to upload attachments if needed and I'm hoping that you can see others' comments.

Email comments to PDS.LongRangePlanning@sdcounty.ca.gov with “DRAFT 2026 CODE CLEANUP” in the subject line.

You can also speak directly to the man in charge:

Kenneth Melton is listed on the Engage webpage as the main person to talk to. He is the Project Manager for Code Compliance. His phone number is 858-761-8993 and I know he'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue. He can also be emailed at Kenneth.melton@sdcounty.ca.gov.