Members of the Hillcrest Town Council met Tuesday for a brief update on plans for the development of two towers at the controversial 301 University site.

Leo Wilson, chair of Uptown Planners, explained the project, now called University Vista, is composed of two towers, Vista Azul and Vista Verde, which would stand taller than the former 301 University project, a 148-foot high rise that received a 7-1 thumbs up from the current City Council before being rejected by the superior court.

“Vista Azul would come in at 193 feet tall and Vista Verde at 175 feet tall,” Wilson said. “Both would be located on the same proposed site as 301 and tower above the Hillcrest neighborhood. We will do all we can to fight this development and make sure that it stays within limits of the height ordinance.”

In May a group of Hillcrest residents upset at the old development won a major battle when the superior court determined the City of San Diego did not follow legal requirements in preparation of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the plans for the 301 University project.

This led to the residents successfully petitioning the San Diego City Council to impose a temporary height limit on new buildings in certain areas of Uptown.

But according to city planners the new development came in just prior to the height ordinance taking effect.

Wilson explained that the city is handling the new development as a ministerial project, which means the process is overseen by city staff and doesn’t receive a full hearing.

“We will take it all the way up to the courts again if we have to make sure our voices are heard,” Wilson said, noting that the grassroots community group Save Hillcrest has re-organized to fight the two now taller towers.

Councilmember Toni Atkins’ representative for Hillcrest, Amy Benjamin, said that Atkins is very concerned about the issue and has asked William Anderson, the director of city planning to look into the newly proposed development and report back on it to her.

On Sunday community members rallied at the site as District 3 City Council candidate Stephen Whitburn led a press conference regarding the new project.

“The fact that this project is moving through the city process with no community input is outrageous,” Whitburn said. “Too many people have lost faith in government because of backroom deals for special interests at City Hall. We need a government that is working for the people, not the developers.”

Whitburn demanded that there be a public hearing on the proposal.

The City Council candidate sent a letter to the city attorney, mayor and city council asking they insist the developers abide by the rules – including the height ordinance and the environmental review the judge indicated was appropriate for the previous project.

“The developers of these towers have been on constructive notice of the impending Uptown height ordinance for at least a year,” Whitburn said.

Though not at the press conference on Sunday, City Council candidate Todd Gloria agreed with Whitburn on the issue and released a statement as well.

“The people of Hillcrest fought fairly to ensure any project built at 301 University be consistent with the character of the community,” said Gloria, who has consistently spoken in opposition to the oversized development. “This proposal is a slap in the face to the residents and business owners of our area.”

Gloria also challenged the process by which the new version of the project was created and its timing to precede implementation of the interim height ordinance.

“The new 301 University project goes against the spirit of what the community asked for and what the San Diego City Council approved in the Interim Height Ordinance. This proposal’s convenient filing just prior to the implementation of the IHO undermines the public’s trust in City Hall.”

Gloria said the new proposal also undercuts the community’s shared goal of revitalizing its business district.

“To have create an even larger project that is obviously in conflict with the public’s desires, calls out the clear need for greater public input in the permitting process,” Gloria said.