Description

This property offers the visual impact of a hillside site without the burden of hillside regulation. Under City of San Diego Development Regulations, the existing grade change does not qualify as a steep hillside or environmentally sensitive area. That means the site can be developed under standard grading and building permits, without triggering additional environmental review or slope development restrictions. The drop from the street level provides natural separation between parking or access at grade and future residential or mixed-use structures below. A retaining wall will be required as part of the building design, but because the slope is non-sensitive and grading is minimal, construction is cost-efficient and fully permitted within standard procedures. With the City’s new parking reforms, projects on this site can incorporate reduced parking ratios or seek parking waivers, making it easier to design around usable square footage rather than asphalt. In short, what looks like a complex lot from the street is actually a straightforward infill development opportunity — no steep hillside rules, no grading penalties, and plenty of flexibility to build smart.