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Making It in San Diego: City Council approves changes to live/work rules to boost housing

Posted at 6:20 AM, Aug 01, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-01 09:20:02-04

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego may soon have more living spaces in commercial zones, due to ease of regulations approved by the San Diego City Council Tuesday.

The amendments to the Live/Work Quarters rules allow for smaller living space in a place of business, add more business types that can include living areas, and authorize additional locations where Live/Work Quarters are allowed.

The changes reduce the required minimum floor area from 750 square feet to 500 square feet, and eliminate the requirement for additional parking.

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Tuesday’s amendments were part of Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s Housing SD reforms.

“This is going to put underutilized commercial and industrial spaces to work in tackling San Diego’s housing crisis,” Mayor Faulconer said. “Lifting restrictions on housing will bring new life to old buildings and allow businesses owners to live where they work. Common-sense approaches like this will help reduce our housing shortage and increase housing affordability.”

Mayor Faulconer and council members have taken action over the past year to spur boost construction of low-income and middle-class housing, speed up the development review process, direct funding toward affordable housing, and encourage growth in crucial transit areas, a spokesman from the mayor’s office said in a written statement.

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