Clairemont housing plan proposes 17,000 new units while preserving neighborhood character

San Diego is facing a housing shortage of more than 100,000 units citywide, and one of the largest community-focused efforts to address it is happening in Clairemont. For the first time in more than 30 years, the City of San Diego is updating the Clairemont Community Plan, which outlines a vision for 17,000 new homes over the next three decades, mostly in high-density, transit-oriented areas (San Diego Union-Tribune, 2024).

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Aligning with Blueprint SD

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The Clairemont Community Plan Update builds on the city’s broader Blueprint SD framework, adopted in 2024, which emphasizes climate goals, equity, and housing production near transit. According to the City of San Diego, the newly released second draft integrates extensive community feedback and focuses development in mixed-use “villages” along the Mid-Coast Trolley line and major corridors like Morena Boulevard. This approach reflects a citywide push to concentrate new growth near transit hubs, similar to updates recently adopted in Mira Mesa and University City.

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City Planning Director, Heidi Vonblum, emphasized the importance of these efforts: “Community plans are critical to shaping how neighborhoods grow, how people move around the city and how they can generally enjoy public spaces” (Inside San Diego, 2025).

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What homeowners need to know

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High-density development in Clairemont represents both opportunity and challenge. From a financial perspective, clustering housing near transit reduces infrastructure costs and aligns with state incentives like density bonuses. At the same time, restrictions remain. Clairemont is unique in having its own 30-foot building height cap, though the new draft raises that to 35–65 feet in certain zones (San Diego Union-Tribune, 2024).

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For homeowners, this transformation may reshape neighborhood property values. Historically, new transit-oriented housing can increase surrounding land value, though opposition often arises around parking, traffic, and view impacts.

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Community tensions

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Community responses to the plan have been mixed. Some leaders applaud the city for protecting single-family neighborhoods and canyon lands, while others argue the height limits are too restrictive to achieve the intended density. At an August 2024 Planning Commission meeting, several commissioners urged the city to allow taller buildings near trolley stations, noting that current limits may make projects financially unfeasible.

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Residents, meanwhile, have voiced concerns about traffic changes, loss of car lanes for bike and bus infrastructure, and whether new parks will be sufficient to support the area’s projected population growth—from 82,000 to more than 104,000 by 2055 (San Diego Union-Tribune, 2024).

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Looking ahead: timelines and next steps

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The planning process is on an accelerated track. The second draft of the Clairemont plan is currently open for public review, with feedback accepted through September 14, 2025 (Inside San Diego, 2025). Afterward, the plan will be reviewed by the Clairemont Community Planning Group, followed by the Planning Commission and the City Council’s Land Use & Housing Committee, each stage allowing for further public input. Final City Council consideration is expected by the end of this year.

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What this means for San Diego’s housing future

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Clairemont’s blueprint illustrates the trade-offs at the heart of San Diego’s housing policy: adding density where infrastructure can support it, while preserving the character of established neighborhoods. It also shows how community feedback is shaping growth—sometimes pulling in opposite directions between development goals and resident concerns.

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As KPBS (2025) reported, this update is part of a broader trend across San Diego neighborhoods where city leaders are attempting to balance ambitious housing targets with localized pushback over density and infrastructure. Its adoption could signal how other suburban communities in San Diego will adapt to state housing mandates and local affordability needs over the next 30 years.

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Quick tip: Always track the progress of your neighborhood’s community plan. These updates guide zoning, density, and land use for decades and can directly impact property values, development opportunities, and livability.

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Xavier Rodriguez is the CEO of ADU Geeks, San Diego’s leading ADU consulting and project management firm. In 2024, the company was ranked No. 1 on the San Diego Business Journal’s Fastest Growing Private Companies list in the Small Business category, achieving 594.3% revenue growth.