La Jolla Planned District Ordinance
A Planned District is used to establish special rules for a precisely defined area. A Planned District is unlike Overlay Zones (examples of which are the Coastal Zone, the Beach Impact Zone, the Coastal Height Overlay Zone), which provide development rules in addition to citywide development zones. Instead a Planned District provides rules to be used instead of those in the City-wide Ordinances. A Planned District Ordinance is the zoning for the area it covers.
HISTORY
1976-83 La Jolla Community Plan and Local Coastal Program Addendum identify three areas needing unique legislation: Commercial Core, Multi-family and Cultural Complex.
1984 La Jolla Commercial Planned District Ordinance (PDO) adopted by the San Diego City Council to address concerns of large-scale office development inconsistent with the existing village atmosphere.
1984 Joint Planning Association/Town Council Committee formed to assist City in applying and applicants in complying with the PDO.
1986 La Jolla PDO amended to include Multi-family and Cultural areas.
1987 PDO amended to clarify language, reduce ambiguities.
1988 PDO amended to reduce permitted height and density for new construction in Commercial Core areas.
1991 PDO amended to change zoning and include additional area in the Planned District
1993 PDO amended to change parking regulations and process for shared parking.
1995 Change in Zone 4 maximum density, if affordable housing is included.
1996 37 PDO revisions approved by LJTC/CPA submitted to Council Office – No action.
1997 PDO amended to correct mapping and definition LJPD boundaries and zones.
1998 PDO updated with SDMC references for parking requirements.
2000-01 PDOC revisited the 37 PDO revisions and submitted 34 to City Staff – No action
2004-05 PDOC/Council Office reviewed 34 PDO revisions. Council Office worked with City Staff. Number of revisions reduced.
2005-06 BRCC submitted 12 additional PDO revisions – 7 were approved by the PDOC, LJTC and CPA and submitted to the Council Office.
2006 Proposal to increase number of stories in Zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 & density in Zone 4.
Planned District Ordiance in the San Diego Municipal Code
Chapter 10: Planning and Zoning
Article 3: Planned Districts
Division 12: La Jolla Planned District
Section 103.1201 Purpose and Intent
It is the purpose of this Division to require that development and redevelopment of land in the central core area, outlying neighborhood commercial centers, and the cultural and multi-family areas west and north of the village commercial core of La Jolla will be accomplished in a manner that retains and enhances the economic, historical, architectural, educational, civic, social, cultural, and aesthetic values, and the overall quality of life within the community. The intent is to implement the goals and objectives of the adopted La Jolla Community Plan (1976), the La Jolla-La Jolla Shores Local Coastal Program Addendum (1983), and the Progress Guide and General Plan of The City of San Diego.
In accordance with the public health, safety, and general welfare, these regulations are intended to protect the unique character of La Jolla by:- The maintenance and encouragement of a diversified and balanced land use pattern including adequate levels of community retail services and residential development opportunities within the commercial areas while limiting additional office use;
- The protection and enhancement of scenic vistas to the ocean, shoreline and hillside areas;
- The maintenance of traditional building scale and facades in new commercial developments;
- The provision of plazas, courtyards, malls, and other public amenities which serve to enhance the pedestrian environment;
- The encouragement of small lot development in keeping with the traditional rhythm and spacing of buildings along the major retail oriented streets;
- The beautification of the streetscape through appropriate landscaping, street furniture, and sidewalk surface treatment;
- The protection of architecturally, historically and culturally significant structures;
- The prevention of commercial encroachment into adjacent residential development;
- The preservation and maintenance of cultural uses in the Cultural Zone;
- The preservation of the traditionally diverse and harmonious architectural styles, and design preferences reflecting the community’s history and to encourage complimentary design and construction; and
- The maintenance of the traditional scale and character of residential development bordering the commercial village core and shoreline areas.
These regulations are intended to improve traffic circulation and access to recreation, visitor-serving retail, cultural, residential uses through specific restrictions on office development and the provision of off-street parking standards. The office restrictions and parking standards are consistent with the need to maintain the pedestrian scale of the commercial areas, reduce peak hour traffic congestion, and assure that office uses do not come to dominate such areas nor adversely affect the retail continuity of the major commercial streets. Additionally, these regulations are intended to ensure that new residential development and redevelopment is compatible with the traditional scale and character of the multi-family area and complementary to the Cultural Zone.