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Oceanside Housing Development Ruling Could Have Statewide Implications On Future Projects

A sign on the edge of the land in Oceanside where the North River Farms development is proposed, May 23, 2019.
Alison St John
A sign on the edge of the land in Oceanside where the North River Farms development is proposed, May 23, 2019.
A San Diego Superior Court ruling that overturned an Oceanside ballot initiative could have have widespread consequences on housing development in the state.

The effort to increase housing in San Diego County often ends up in the courts, and a ruling last week on one North County housing development could have statewide implications.

The North River Farms development was approved by the Oceanside City Council in 2019. That decision was overturned by a successful citizen’s ballot initiative which passed in last November’s election by a majority of Oceanside voters. on May 6, San Diego Superior Court Judge Richard S. Whitney ruled that the ballot initiative violated California's Housing Crisis Act of 2019, which intended to address the state's problems with homelessness and high rents and home prices.

San Diego has seen a number of council and board approved housing projects defeated by voters at the ballot box, but this ruling puts future citizens actions against development in question.

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San Diego-Union Tribune Reporter Philip Diehl joined Midday Edition on Tuesday to discuss the issue.