A proposed 5,100-home development in Otay Mesa is moving forward despite opposition from private property owners, some of them undeveloped parcels, within the boundaries of the proposed project. The landowners say a rezoning plan could reduce the value of their property and limit how it can be be us ed. The San Diego City Council voted to move forward with the Southwest Village project in Otay Mesa. City planners have been working on the proposal since 2018. At Monday’s council meeting, there were several speakers during public comment including in support and in opposition. One of the public speakers talked about the environmental damage the development could cause due to noise and pollution from vehicles. The Southwest Village project would cover nearly 490 acres of mostly city-owned land south of State Route 905, east of Interstate 805 and just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Tri Pointe Homes plans to build more than 5,000 market-rate and affordable homes, along with a school, parks, 175,000 square feet of retail, nearly 200 acres of open space an more. Supporters say the development would help address San Diego’s housing shortage. Because the project would affect protected habitat, the developer is working with the city and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to offset those impacts. Part of that plan includes rezoning privately owned land within the project area for residential and open space uses. That proposal has drawn opposition from some of the private landowners within the project boundaries. They say the rezoning could restrict future development opportunities and lower the value of their property. They also say they have not had enough input during the planning process. Tri Pointe Homes says it has been engaging with the community for years. The Planning Commission approved the project in June, despite strong opposition from many of the private property owners who spoke during that meeting. One speaker described the long-term plans her father had for his property. “He bought the property 40 years ago with the hopes to plant seeds of generational wealth for our family. He’s waited very patiently to be able to develop this land,” they said. Another landowner questioned the city’s authority to rezone the properties. Tony Blas has been actively opposing the development for many years. He said he purchased one and half parcels 40 years ago and has struggled to develop on the land after many were forced to tear down buildings that were not up to code, when the City of San Diego annexed the land from the County of San Diego. “Where is the law where the city has the right with the developer to change and down zone our properties? That is not right. I’m all for development yea we need housing. But not this way,” said Blas. Another speaker said the proposal would affect longtime San Diego families. “I think it’s really sad that San Diego natives are being pushed out and aren’t able to even build one home for their families, let alone 5100 for people to come to San Diego and make it more competitive for us natives to be here. I think it’s really important that you see the faces of the people being affected,” they said. The city says everything it is doing is within its land use authority and that it does not plan to purchase the privately owned lots. At least one landowner said he may consider taking the dispute to court. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less