Build Better SD is a citywide initiative to enable the faster delivery of
public spaces and buildings equitably and sustainably across San Diego.
WHY?
Inequitable planning policies and the lack of equitable funding tools have resulted in significant disparities in funding for parks, libraries, public streets and other public spaces. Under the current structure, funds are locked into place by community boundaries. This has resulted in wealthier communities receiving more infrastructure investments, while traditionally disadvantaged communities have received significantly less funding for these spaces and services.
There are significant infrastructure needs across the City and approximately $222 million are unable to be spent within the current structure in areas with the greatest need. Community funds are insufficient to fund existing planned projects. Build Better SD will help fund public spaces and facilities faster and more efficiently by expanding to a citywide model.
One City, Two Realities
Playgrounds, Mobility & Transportation, and Parks
Envisioning Build Better SD
Build Better SD is a citywide initiative to support the City of San Diego’s equity, access, conservation and sustainability goals. This initiative will set clear policies intended to create more opportunities for innovative, culturally relevant and interactive public spaces by prioritizing investments in areas where the needs are greatest—streamlining the delivery of more infrastructure, to more people, more quickly. To learn more about these disparities view the story map for this initiative.
Parks for All of Us, adopted by City Council on Aug. 3 of 2021, initiated a more equitable funding system for parks, recreation, and trails, by creating a citywide scaled fee for new parks throughout the City, prioritizing those with the greatest need. Build Better SD is an extension of Parks for All of Us so that we have equitable, need-based, comprehensive funding for not only parks, but all public spaces, including libraries, streets, pedestrian and bike facilities, as well as other gathering spaces.
Build Better SD prioritizes the delivery of:
How to Make Build Better SD a Reality
Align the City’s General Plan with new policies that will prioritize investments in areas with the greatest needs and create opportunities to gather valuable community input. This will ensure public spaces and facilities truly meet the needs of those they are intended to serve and can be delivered to more people more quickly.
Amend the San Diego Municipal Code to implement these new policies that promote more investments in public spaces for all the people that live, work and play in the City.
Improve the Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Program to align with the City’s vision to create neighborhoods where people can safely and enjoyably bike, walk, roll or take transit, and to produce housing units of all sizes.
Update Development Impact Fee structure to streamline public investments and further equitable policies, with an emphasis on prioritizing investment in neighborhoods with the greatest needs and delivering more infrastructure to more people, more quickly.
Existing Challenges
The City currently sets and collects development fees for each individual community to support public spaces and buildings. This can be challenging as it restricts funds, resulting in:
- Delays as well as projects that cannot be fully funded.
- Inequitable investments.
- Funds that vary greatly between communities.
- $222 million dollars currently unable to be spent efficiently.
One City, Two Realities
Similar to Parks For All of Us, this initiative will facilitate the creation of a citywide infrastructure funding program. This will ensure that projects are prioritized and funded in a streamlined manner to efficiently address the infrastructure gaps of areas with the greatest needs, which will result in delivering infrastructure faster across the City.
This initiative will create a standardized Citywide fee for new development to streamline public investments with an emphasis on:
- Addressing historical investment inequities.
- Delivering infrastructure to areas with the greatest needs faster and more efficiently across the City.
Get Involved & Stay Connected!
Take the Survey
As these important policies are further developed, we want to hear from you about your priorities for public spaces. Please take a moment to complete the survey linked below.
Share Information with Friends and Family
We’ve developed materials below to easily learn more about Build Better SD and we invite you to share them with others.
Send Us Your Comments
Do you have any questions about Build Better SD? Do you have ideas about how we can better inform you and your community or gain additional input from San Diegans?
Do you have any questions about Build Better SD? Do you have ideas about how we can better inform you and your community or gain additional input from San Diegans?
Please email us at publicspaces@sandiego.gov so we can connect!
Review Documents
We want to hear from you! Proposed DRAFT amendments and related DRAFT documents are now available for your review. Please share your input to help prepare final versions that best serve you and your community. As investments are made to enable the faster delivery of public spaces and infrastructure equitably and sustainably across San Diego, we want to hear from you to make our proposal better. Your feedback at this stage is critical – your input will shape the proposed amendments that will be presented to City Council for adoption.
We want to hear from you! Proposed DRAFT amendments and related DRAFT documents are now available for your review. Please share your input to help prepare final versions that best serve you and your community. As investments are made to enable the faster delivery of public spaces and infrastructure equitably and sustainably across San Diego, we want to hear from you to make our proposal better. Your feedback at this stage is critical – your input will shape the proposed amendments that will be presented to City Council for adoption.
Please share your comments or input with the project team by emailing publicspaces@sandiego.gov.
Proposed Amendments
General Plan Amendment – Public Facilities Element – DRAFT - 3/24/22- RTCIP Funding Program Amendment – DRAFT - 3/24/22
- Build Better SD Code Amendment Package – DRAFT - 4/6/22
- Appendix M. Trip Generation Manual – DRAFT – 3/24/22
- Appendix U. DIF Program Manual – DRAFT – 3/24/22
Relevant Documents
- Current Development Impact Fee Schedule – 12/15/21
- City of SD - Fire and Rescue Unit Cost Memo – DRAFT - 3/16/22
- City of SD - Library Unit Cost Memo – DRAFT - 3/16/22
- City of SD – Fire & Rescue Fee Nexus Study – DRAFT - 3/24/22
- City of SD – Library Fee Nexus Study – DRAFT - 3/24/22
- City of SD – Mobility Fee Nexus Study – DRAFT - 3/24/22
- City of SD – DIF Program Residential Scaling Methodology – 3/24/22
- DIF Calculator - DRAFT - 4/27/22
This is a preliminary version of the calculator designed to share information about the potential ranges of fees, and does not include discounts for the Mobility, Fire and Libraries fees that are proposed as part of Build Better SD. Your feedback on the fee amounts and any potential policy goals that could be addressed through the final fee amounts is welcome and appreciated.
- FY23 DIF Comparison - 900 SF MDU
- FY23 DIF Comparison - 1500 SF SDU
Included above are comparisons between the current Fiscal Year 2023 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) Development Impact Fee schedule and the proposed schedule with Build Better SD for a 900 SF multi- dwelling unit (mdu) and a 1500 SF single dwelling unit (sdu). These numbers do not consider reductions available for affordable dwelling units and units located within a transit priority district.
For the current fee schedule effective July 1, 2022, the Citywide Park DIF will replace the community-based parks component for all new permit applications.
Past Meetings