San Diego's downtown planning agency stripped of power
Civic San Diego, downtown San Diego’s official planning agency, is being stripped of most of its powers as the result of a pending court settlement, meaning the agency will no longer have any direct affiliation with the city of San Diego and will operate as an independent nonprofit.
The dramatic shift in circumstances ends a years-long legal battle between the city and Murtaza Baxamusa, a former Civic board member who sued the agency in April of 2015. Baxamusa, who is affiliated with the San Diego Building & Construction Trades Council was joined in his lawsuit by the organization, argued that the agency lacked meaningful oversight and was too tight with developers.
In the tentative settlement, reached Thursday night, Civic San Diego has agreed to cease its planning and permitting of downtown projects; it will also end its administration over the downtown parking district. Those functions will be transferred back to the city, pending approval of the settlement by City Council. The city is also on the hook for $725,000 in legal fees, according to the settlement terms.
“Following execution of this Agreement ... Civic San Diego will no longer operate as agent for the City for planning, permitting, and non-successor project management functions,” the term sheet states.
Read more: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/story/2019-03-29/san-diego-downtown-planning-agency-stripped-of-power