Pro-housing group says San Diego violates law delaying Pacific Beach tower

A pro-housing advocacy group has accused San Diego officials of violating state housing laws by demanding special approval for a proposed 23-story mixed-use tower on Turquoise Street in Pacific Beach, according to the Times of San Diego.

The project, known as Project Vela, was first proposed in 2024 by developer Kalonymus. It includes 65 market-rate housing units, 10 low-income units, and 139 hotel units intended for long-term leases rather than short-term stays.

Pacific Beach residents have opposed the project primarily because it exceeds the city's 30-foot height limit for new coastal buildings. City planners have expressed concerns that the developer might be classifying housing units as hotel rooms to bypass these height restrictions.

In December 2025, San Diego planners sent a letter alleging the developer was trying to avoid height limits by misclassifying units. However, in August 2026, the YIMBY Democrats of San Diego wrote to Mayor Todd Gloria asserting that the city is ignoring state housing laws designed to facilitate housing development.

The dispute highlights tensions between local zoning rules and state housing mandates as San Diego navigates growth and coastal development challenges.