SAN DIEGO, July 12, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- San Diego County can more than meet its need for new housing over the next two decades by concentrating development in existing cities.
This is the overall conclusion of a study released today by the Cleveland National Forest Foundation, and prepared by the non-profit GreenInfo Network. The study was commissioned to analyze the potential for sustainable, infill development to meet the housing needs of the region. According to the San Diego Association of Governments, (SANDAG) the region will require 230,000 new housing units in San Diego County by 2030.
The study used detailed 2009 SANDAG data to conclude that with existing zoning there is enough development capacity to accommodate approximately 400,000 new homes in the incorporated areas of San Diego County. This means that without making any changes to zoning, all of the region's projected housing needs for 2030 could take place as infill development (within the incorporated cities of San Diego), and the cities would still have 170,000 additional units available for development beyond 2030.
The study's findings will be used in the current discussions of SANDAG's 2050 Regional Transportation Plan, for which an Urban Area Transit Strategy is under development.
"Successful transit depends on a foundation of urban, infill housing," said Duncan McFetridge, Chairman of the Cleveland National Forest Foundation. "This study clearly shows we have the capacity to support a more aggressive strategy for meeting housing needs, building transit that works, protecting the environment and making our economy more prosperous. The Urban Area Transit Strategy is a last-chance opportunity for the San Diego region to choose a sustainable future."
The study's conclusions are supported by current national trends in the market demand for suburban housing. According to a recent Special Report titled "The Future of the City" in Atlantic magazine, "Urban-style housing in walkable neighborhoods – including those in the inner suburbs – is what's in demand today. And for a variety of reasons, that demand will intensify in the coming years. Only by serving it can the country kick-start growth in an enormous and essential part of the economy."
Sherman Harmer, a prominent San Diego homebuilder and 40-year veteran of the construction industry, agrees with this direction:
"Land, water, energy and environmental sustainability will, combined with state law (AB 32 and SB 375) ensure that future development in the region will be more 'diverse' than that of the past. San Diego, like the rest of the world, has to find a way to meet today's challenges such as improving air quality, providing affordable housing, creating jobs, stimulating economic development, as well as reducing dependency on the automobile.
"In San Diego County, we have the opportunity to meet most of our housing challenges with infill development, create an economic catalyst for jobs, as well as enhance the quality of life in the region. However, in order to accomplish these goals, we will need a strong investment in our 'Urban Core' in transit infrastructure to provide a foundation for future development."
For a complete copy of the study and more information on the Urban Area Transit Strategy, visit www.transitsandiego.org.
Cleveland National Forest Foundation (CNFF)
Founded in 1995, CNFF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to progressive land use and transportation planning as a means of protecting vital natural resources.
The Cleveland National Forest Foundation Logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7724