Fairgrounds Housing?

Del Mar City Manager Ashley Jones and Principal Planner Amanda Lee made a detailed presentation to the 22^nd DAA Board of Directors on September 9^th regarding the ongoing discussions about affordable housing on the fairgrounds. The primary message was that Del Mar is pursuing many options to site affordable housing, and that the proposed 61 units on fairground property represent less than half of the required units in the city’s 6^th cycle housing element. The city has also obtained a $1.8M grant from the state and added about $700K of its own funds to perform feasibility studies that will inform both affordable housing plans and the fairgrounds master planning efforts. These studies will be completed in the next 12-18 months to meet state-mandated deadlines.

Public comments following the presentation included support for affordable housing from representatives from State Senator Catherine Blakespear, Assembly Member Tasha Boerner, and Solana Beach Councilmember Jewel Edson. Representatives from the Seaside Ridge proposed development, including property owner Carol Lazier, said that their project would provide 42 low-income units if their project is approved by Del Mar, potentially reducing the number of units needed at the fairgrounds.

The questions and comments from the fair board indicated that more information will be sought at their October meeting, and they expressed some frustration that the process is moving so slowly after over 15 years of discussion. Both parties expressed unhappiness with the process that led to both permanent and temporary employees of the fairgrounds being assigned to Del Mar, accounting for 55% of total employees, based on economic data from 2018. This high and outdated estimate directly led to the high number of affordable units assigned to Del Mar. There was complete agreement that this process needs to change before the 7^th cycle Housing Element is reviewed in 2029.