March 25, 2021 – The city of Del Mar (City) adopts the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (6th Cycle). The Housing Element is updated every eight years to meet local housing needs.  The 6th Cycle identifies the Seaside Ridge project site as one of the affordable housing candidate sites that would help the City comply with state law and meet its state-mandated regional housing needs allocation, including affordable housing.

April 15, 2021 – Deadline for State adoption of the 6th Cycle.

September 28, 2021 – Governor Newsom signs AB 1398 into  law, effective January 1, 2022. The legislation creates a mechanism to hold cities that do not provide their fair share of housing accountable by removing regulatory barriers so much-needed housing can be built without the usual level of local control cities are accustomed to.

December 13, 2021 - The City re-adopts a revised 6th Cycle to address the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) comments.

March 21, 2022 – HCD informs the City that it has failed to meet the requirements of the Housing Element Law. 

April 15, 2022 – The City misses deadline set by AB 1398 to rezone its inventory sites identified in the 6th Cycle.

July 13, 2022 – The California Coastal Commission accepts the amendments to the Housing Element Implementation Overlay Zone (HEI-OZ) and approves the HEI-OZ as part of the City’s Local Costal Program (LCP).

September 25, 2022 – As of this date, the City has not complied with HCD’s requests to update its draft Housing Element and obtain compliance.

October 4, 2022 – A Preliminary Application to develop the Seaside Ridge property into a mixed-income residential community is submitted to the City. After 20-plus years of ownership of the land, and multiple attempts to develop the property for tourist-serving uses, it has become clear that a residential community is the most beneficial use of the land for the City and the region. 

March 30, 2023 - A formal Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application is submitted to the City for the Seaside Ridge project. Part of the application included a request for a rezone to add the property into the City’s LCP HEI-OZ.

May 2023 - HCD finally certifies Del Mar’s Housing Element, more than two years past the deadline.

February 23, 2024 - After more than a year of thwarted efforts by the City and repeated application submittals to deliver affordable housing in Del Mar, the property owner has decided to sue the city.

March 2024 - The city signs a non-binding Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement (ENRA) with the Del Mar Fairgrounds board to decide on a specific location on the fairgrounds for affordable housing. However, the agreement stipulates that the fairgrounds may terminate negotiations at any time.

July 2024 - The Del Mar Fairgrounds board votes to discontinue housing discussions with the City of Del Mar due to the City’s position over a new railroad alignment.

Fall 2024 - The Del Mar Fairgrounds board votes to resume housing discussions with the City of Del Mar.

December 2024 - HCD issues a letter to the city of Del Mar correcting their assertion that AB 1398 does not apply and reminds the city that if negotiations stall with the Fairgrounds, then the city to rezone "candidate sites" like Seaside Ridge. Read more. HCD also reminds the City that, “regardless of sites identified in any contingency program, it must continue to process housing development applications submitted during the time the City’s housing element was out of compliance, pursuant to Government Code section 65585, subdivision (d)(5).”

February 2025 - The Fairgrounds board votes to suspend housing talks with the city of Del Mar once again due to the City’s position over a new railroad alignment. Read more.

June 2025 - Judge rules Seaside Ridge must first exhaust all administrative remedies.

September 2025 - Del Mar denies Seaside Ridge’s request for an appeal. Read more.

December 2025 - CA Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a letter warning the city that it could face penalties for failing to follow state law.

February 2026 - AG’s office issues second letter to the City leadership that evading a lawful Builder’s Remedy project would be a violation of state law.

May 4, 2026 - Seaside Ridge notifies the city of multiple due process issues and its obligation to approve Seaside Ridge. Read the letter.

May 19, 2026 - City of Del Mar officially denies Seaside Ridge. Check out the media coverage on this unfortunate decision.