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.