The Del Mar City Council will consider granting Gangi Development exclusive rights to build affordable housing on city-owned land Tuesday, Oct. 20.
The meeting agenda shows staff recommending the council approve an Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement (ENRA) and a separate predevelopment funding agreement with Gangi Development for the vacant lot at 10th Street, near the Civic Center Complex. The agreements would set a timeline for predevelopment plans, community outreach, environmental review and entitlements for affordable housing on the site.
The 10th Street lot is one of several properties Del Mar has identified to meet its state-mandated housing goals. A May 19 city staff presentation showed Del Mar had reached 77% of its overall target of 175 dwelling units through 2029, according to city records. But most permitted units fall in the moderate- and above-moderate-income categories. The city has yet to permit any of its assigned 64 low-income or 37 very low-income units, The Coast News reported.
Del Mar Principal Planner Amanda Lee told The Coast News the city has "multiple strategies in place to produce low-income units."
The council will also take final action on reduced speed limits across eight road segments. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the council voted unanimously Oct. 6 to introduce the ordinance on first reading. Four segments on Camino Del Mar would drop from 40 mph to 30 mph. Three segments on Jimmy Durante Boulevard would drop to 30 mph from speeds of 35 to 45 mph. A segment on Via de la Valle would go from 40 mph to 35 mph.
Tuesday is the second reading.
Staff also recommends the council adopt the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the San Dieguito Lagoon Levee, Habitat Enhancement, and Trail Project. The environmental review, prepared by consultant Dudek, covers planned vegetated earthen berms along both sides of the San Dieguito River between the railroad bridge and Jimmy Durante Boulevard.
The berms would be 40 to 50 feet wide, up to 1,500 feet long and rise two to four feet above existing grade, according to city records. The project, estimated at $10 million, has secured nearly $1.3 million and has applied for an additional $5.5 million from state and federal agencies. A 15-foot-wide pedestrian trail on Del Mar Fairgrounds property would provide a new connection for the 71-mile Coast to Crest Trail.
Construction could begin as soon as 2027, pending approvals from the 22nd District Agricultural Association and resource agencies, according to city records.
The council will also hold a public hearing on a development agreement for La Atalaya, a previously approved tentative tract map. Staff recommends introducing an ordinance to consolidate all related discretionary approvals under one expiration date. A second reading is scheduled for Nov. 10.
Other items on Mayor Tracy Martinez's agenda include appointing Steven McDowell to the Undergrounding Program Advisory Committee (UPAC) and setting the 2027 council meeting schedule. Staff is asking the council whether to formally change meeting days to Tuesdays in the Del Mar Municipal Code.
The meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 1050 Camino del Mar. Residents can join via Zoom at (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 879 0650 1544, or submit written comments to [email protected] by noon on Oct. 20.
