Amidst a housing shortage crisis impacting California, the city of El Cajon finds itself trailing in home-building efforts compared to its counterparts within San Diego County. The urgency to address housing shortages has intensified, yet El Cajon, characterized by its racial and economic diversity, is grappling with various hurdles impeding housing development. From 2018 to the current year, El Cajon permitted fewer than ten new homes per thousand residents, highlighting a significant lag compared to cities like Chula Vista, which have authorized nearly four times as many homes per capita. This disparity underscores broader challenges faced by the state in meeting its housing demands, exacerbating affordability issues that drive working-class families away. The correlation between high housing prices and homelessness in San Diego becomes evident, as studies point to housing costs as a dominant factor rather than inclement weather or other socio-economic issues.
Factors Hindering Housing Development in El Cajon
Several key elements contribute to El Cajon’s slow pace in housing development, beginning with its geographical constraints. The city is densely populated with limited vacant land available for new construction, making it the second-most densely populated area in the county. Although there are large commercial spaces with potential for redevelopment, hesitant property owners pose an obstacle. The mayor, Bill Wells, ascribes the housing stagnation to physical space constraints and unfavorable market conditions. While he supports development, Wells is cautious not to enforce denser constructions where larger lot sizes prevail, emphasizing property rights. Furthermore, the lack of development fees, typically used to incentivize builders, theoretically attracts developers yet fails to produce expected growth. The city refrains from liberalizing zoning regulations further despite potential opportunities to incentivize developments by adjusting building codes or zoning laws, such as altering height limitations and parking requirements.
City Strategies and Development Tools
The absence of development fees in El Cajon marks a deliberate attempt to encourage investment, yet actual development falls short of expectations. Various strategies can be employed by city governments to influence development, such as relaxing zoning laws and height restrictions or modifying parking requirements. Despite these available levers, Mayor Wells expresses reservations regarding the influence of state laws over local governance. For instance, regulations allowing developers to forego parking spaces when building near public transit are a contentious issue. Wells critiques the practicalities of such policies, highlighting the sustained prevalence of car ownership despite public transit access. Moreover, resistance to raising the city’s three-story building height limit remains, reflecting an effort to protect historical neighborhoods known for single-family homes. The mayor opposes rezoning efforts that would accommodate high-density townhomes, contending such moves could displace longtime residents, advocating instead for expansion into more rural regions to accommodate growth without disrupting established communities.
Comparison with National City
National City, another densely populated municipality within San Diego County, offers a contrasting narrative to El Cajon’s housing environment. Despite similarities in economic diversity and population density, National City has approved twice as many homes per capita within the same timeframe. Several contributory factors include the nearby Naval Base and proximity to San Diego, enriching its housing development rates. National City’s direct investments in housing projects also differ from El Cajon’s strategy, exemplified by initiatives like constructing a seniors’ apartment complex on city-owned land. This proactive approach contrasts with El Cajon’s reliance on market forces and developer incentives. National City Mayor Ron Morrison acknowledges the appeal of cooler bay breezes compared to El Cajon’s warmer inland climate, but like Wells, expresses concerns about overarching state housing policies. Both mayors highlight the inadequacy of uniform state solutions, arguing that tailored policies are required to address unique municipal challenges.
Broader Implications and Future Considerations
El Cajon’s housing development struggles stem from several key factors, primarily its geographical limitations. With most of the land occupied and few open areas left, El Cajon ranks as the second-most densely populated region in its county. Although there are sizable commercial sites suitable for redevelopment, many property owners remain ambivalent, hindering progress. Mayor Bill Wells attributes the stagnation in housing to these spatial constraints and tough market conditions. While he endorses development, Wells is careful not to impose increased density where large-lot properties exist, underscoring the importance of property rights. Despite the absence of development fees aimed at attracting builders, which theoretically should lure developers, growth remains sluggish. The city avoids further liberalizing zoning regulations, missing chances to incentivize growth through amendments to construction codes, such as modifying height restrictions and parking mandates, which might spur potential developments.
