After several hours of debate, the San Diego City Council voted 6-1 on July 8 for an Interim Height Ordinance (IHO) that would restrict new building heights from 50 to 65 feet in parts of Hillcrest and Mission Hills.

This ordinance is temporary, with a life span of 30 months until the Uptown community plan update is finished. The ordinance can also be extended by the City Council.

“This is short-term,” said District 3 City Councilmember Toni Atkins, who said she listened to the testimony and believed the version of the IHO the council adopted was a “reasonable compromise.” “I think we can work with this.”

Atkins made the motion to accept the height limits.

Councilmember Kevin Faulconer seconded the motion. Councilmember Donna Frye said the IHO is “going in the right direction.” Council President Scott Peters was absent.

“This will allow a thoughtful and intelligent (process),” said Councilmember Brian Maienschein.

Councilmember Jim Madaffer cast the lone dissenting vote, saying “broader thinking” is needed.

“We’ll end up with IHOs all over the city,” he said.

The ordinance is a response, in part, to the controversial vote by the City Council in 2007 approving a 12-story condominium project known as 301 University, located at the corner of Third and University avenues in Hillcrest. The development is the subject of a lawsuit and construction was suspended.

A second reading on the ordinance has tentatively been set for July 22. The ordinance would go into effect 30 days after the second reading has been adopted.

The IHO would limit structures to 65 feet on Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth avenues north of Upas and Washington streets; and University Avenue east of Dove Street in Hillcrest.

The 50-foot limit is along Washington from Dove to Ibis streets in Mission Hills.

John Taylor, a member of the Hillcrest Town Council steering committee, urged the council to adopt the IHO. Kim Adler, a Mission Hills resident, and others told the council the 65-foot limit was a good compromise.

Representatives of the building industry and other organizations told the council they supported a different version of the ordinance. Jarvis Ross told the council the building industry was “living in the past.”

Plans to start work on the IHO were announced in June 2007. The Land Use & Housing Committee heard the item on March 12 and it voted to send it to the City Council.

The Planning Commission voted 4-3 on May 8 to not include a strict height limitation. Planning Commission members expressed concern that a strict height limitation would not allow for project applicants to incorporate a good design while maximizing the number of dwelling units at various sites.