Residents want to keep density

Residents of Kelly and Raymond avenues plan to attend San Diego County Planning Commission’s hearing and Zoning Consistency Review on July 9 to protest a proposed density increase in their area, which they say routinely experiences flooding.

The residents were at the Ramona Community Planning Group’s (RCPG) meeting last month, upset with notices from the county’s Department of Planning and Land Use (DPLU) notifying them that their zoning would change from 3Res to VR-15. Linda Berman, who lives on Raymond Avenue, said the change increases the density from 2 dwellings per acre to 15 per acre.

“This is not a good neighborhood to be doing this in,” said Berman, who noted that the area is in a floodplain.

The RCPG supported the residents’ complaints by passing a motion asking DPLU to reconsider the zoning for that area. The RCPG also expressed its opposition to the current General Plan Update plan based on extreme density upzones and downzones and last-minute zoning overlay.

Berman sent information and photos of the flooding to the county, which she said has been aware of the problem. According to Berman, DPLU says it understands the flooding issue but needs to swap the proposed density for her neighborhood with another area.

The Kelly and Raymond Avenue section of town was not the only area targeted for increased density, Berman said, noting that a large section behind Kmart is shown to be zoned for high density.

“We have way more than our fair share of high density dwellings,” she noted.

Berman knows of at least seven residents from her area who plan to attend the commission hearing. She has also talked to others in the community who are unhappy with proposed changes.

“I would like a large group of people behind me because otherwise they (planning commissioners) are going to think Ramona doesn’t care.”

The commission’s recommendation from this meeting will determine her next step, Berman added. If the density remains as proposed, Berman said she may have to hire a lawyer, although she would rather not take that route.

The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 9 in the Planning Commission’s hearing room at 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite B, San Diego. Berman advises residents to arrive early to find available parking. Draft zoning maps and additional information is available at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dplu/gpupdate/index.html.