Fairgrounds Affordable Housing Negotiations Resume with “Belt and Suspenders”

Negotiations between the City of Del Mar and the Fairgrounds (22nd DAA) for affordable housing on Fairgrounds property have resumed based on a vote on Tuesday, March 11, by the 22nd DAA Board. At its February meeting, the Board had mandated a “temporary pause” on negotiations, based on “continued advocacy” by Del Mar Mayor Terry Gaasterland for a Fairgrounds rail realignment.

At that March 11 meeting, a City team led by Deputy Mayor Tracy Martinez urged the 22nd DAA Board to resume discussions on affordable housing at the Fairgrounds, under the Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement (ENRA) agreed to by the City and the 22nd DAA in April 2024.

Deputy Mayor Martinez emphasized that the City “stands by” the Council-adopted Guiding Principles that state “SANDAG must respect and protect the operational, economic, environmental and planning needs of the 22nd DAA…” in the LOSSAN realignment program, and said, “Your sucess is our success; your challenged are our challenges.” City Manager Ashley Jones and Principal Planner Amanda Lee stressed the ENRA “due diligence” activities funded by a $1.5 million SANDAG “Housing Acceleration Grant, including technical studies that will also be beneficial to the 22nd DAA in its master planning processBy a 6-1 vote, the 22nd DAA Board voted to resume discussions. Director Joyce Rowland’s motion included what she described as a “belt and suspenders” provision that will place the affordable housing matter on the agenda for every Board meeting going forward, which would allow the 22nd DAA to take prompt action in the future, if deemed warranted. Director Mark Arabo, who voted for the motion, stated that “there should be an outright termination of ENRA if Del Mar goes and supports an alignment that hurts the Fairgrounds.”

Editors’ note: Editorial Board member Don Mosier serves on the 22nd DAA Board of Directors. He does not participate in writing or editing any Sandpiper articles relating to affordable housing on the Fairgrounds, or potential Fairgrounds rail alignments.