How would you feel if out of the blue and with ZERO notice an apartment complex was being built next door to you? Our Neighbors for Encanto members were shocked and appalled to realize that this is exactly what investor/developers have applied to do at multiple locations, all on connecting streets. Currently we are looking at the proposed building for 1348 Tarbox St, and at least 2 properties on Hilger, and 1 at least property on Plover.

With no notice, no public hearing, no postings of proposed building plans, an investor/developer has filed permit number PMT-3326620 Project ID PRJ-1127220 with the city to build 43 ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Unit) and one Single Family Dwelling right in the middle of a neighborhood where the lots sizes are close to a half acre or more all zoned for single family housing.

We don't want anyone in our neighborhood to feel we are against owners constructing an ADU. An ADU is what many of us know as a granny flat - a smaller detached dwelling that many people choose to build for an older parent, other relative, or to rent in order to help with their family finances. Recent changes to the laws have allowed each homeowner the ability to build 1 ADU unit and one JADU ( junior accessory dwelling unit) on their properties. This is not the type of construction proposed for 1348 Tarbox St. The permit was not for 1 Single Family Dwelling, 1 ADU and 1 JADU.

How is it legal then? As part of an incentive to push AB 671 (approved by Governor Newsom on October 9th, 2019) which required cities to plan to “incentivize and promote the creation of accessory dwelling units that can be offered at affordable rent for very low, low, or moderate-income households”. The incentive San Diego came up with was the bonus ADU unit. Where - if you build one ADU or JADU, you may build an additional unit to rent to a very low, low, or moderate income person. On top of this, our city has decided that if an owner's property is within a Sustainable Development Area instead of just 1 additional ADU/JADU, you may build however many you desire (space permitting, with no height restrictions).

According to the city, the Sustainable Development Area has replaced the Transit Priority Area of the original plan, and allows properties with unlimited bonus ADUs/JADUs "if the development is accessible to a major public transit stop up to a 1-mile walk." Per the city this means that now these projects can reach an additional 5,200 acres of neighborhood land.

1348 Tarbox St. is more than 1 mile in walking distance to both of the nearest trolley stops (Encanto/62 Street & Massachusetts Avenue); and it is over 1 mile away again in walking distance from both of the intersections with 2 MTS Bus Routes as there is only 1 MTS Bus Route that serves this community - the 916/917. And the 916/917 bus route does not run every fifteen (15) minutes or less during the morning and afternoon as specified in the Transit Priority Area definition. 

So it's not legal. And they still want to do it because they think we're not looking, and won't be able to organize ourselves and afford to pay to fight back against them like other communities are doing in higher socioeconomic communities. Yes, we are middle class families, and yes, we deserve to live in the neighborhood we invested in when we purchased our properties - not what some investor/developer wants us to have to "put up with".

Even if this were a legal project, that doesn't mean it's good for our community. Imagine it, 43 additional housing units filled with occupants walking around our unmarked and undefined dilapidated streets that have little to no lighting during the morning and evening hours. Not to mention their additional cars that they will expect to be able to park on a street (the ADU building does NOT require them to provide off street parking) with no defined curbs, no designated parking spaces, without designated no parking zones for public safety. 

Most housing construction projects have to take into the account the impact the construction will have on traffic patterns, storm and drain water, the environment, wildlife, and the neighborhood as a whole - and if approved stipulations require them to bringing their property and the surrounding area up to code for the proposed building density, and property taxes are assessed in order to ensure our schools, parks, police and other community service needs are able to keep up with the demand of the increased population in the neighborhood. This bonus ADU program allows builders to drop ADU apartments into our neighborhood and walk away with the residents absorbing all the negative repercussions, and dealing with the fallout. This is not a win-win this is a big LOSS for Encanto. Add your name to tell these investor/developers NO. We DON'T want your ADU Apartment Complexes!