Environmental groups working with Otay Ranch Village housing development will preserve 300 additional acres of open space for the project.
Ashley Ludwig, Patch Staff
|Updated Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 12:48 pm PT
SANTEE, CA—Preserve Wild Santee, and a coalition of environmental nonprofits along with the California Attorney General's Office, announced a legal settlement this week regarding the Otay Ranch Village 13 project.
The village project, approved in 2020, has been challenged by advocacy groups and the Attorney General due to its location in a wildfire-prone area. The proposed 1,900 single-family and multi-family units, commercial space, and resort can increase the number of units built, but will decrease into a more compact area, according ot the settlement.
A spokesperson for the coalition of environmental nonprofits said in a recent news release that the settlement will enhance environmental protections and safeguard endangered species. At the same time, it will increase the opportunity for new housing in the region.
"The revised project will improve wildfire protections by reducing the amount of development edging natural open space, adding exterior fire-suppressing sprinklers in perimeter areas, adding additional wildfire surveillance cameras, and other measures," according to the release. It will also lead to the widening of Otay Lakes Road, an accelerated addition that will enable expedited wildfire evacuations from Otay Ranch Village 13 and neighboring communities.
Ultimately, the agreement will reduce the footprint of the proposed Otay Ranch Village housing development, preserve 300 additional acres of open space, and conserve additional habitat for the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly and other native plant species.
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"While reducing the development footprint by one third, the settlement simultaneously allows the developer flexibility to add additional units. The developer may apply for up to 2,750 housing units (increased from 1,938) within the same building area, allowing for additional housing supply while reducing environmental impacts.
A spokesperson for Otay Ranch Villas reached out to Patch with the following statement:
The updated plan has reduced the development footprint by approximately 300acres—a 40 percent decrease in developed land—to permanently preserve and protect a larger area of sensitive habitat. The community will also now be able to offer up to 2,750 homes, increased from the 1,938 homes originally planned. The new plan will offer a greater variety of housing options, including multifamily apartment rentals and for-purchase homes that range from entry-level attached residences to large-lot single- family homes—making homeownership more attainable for a diverse range of buyers.
“We’re pleased to have reached this agreement, as it will allow us to provide the SanDiego region with an influx of new residential units consisting of many different housing types at a variety of price points,” said Nick Lee, Chief Operating Officer of Baldwin & Sons. “We appreciate the ongoing efforts of all parties and recognize that it was their cooperation that created this opportunity for us to deliver much-needed housing to buyers of all ages and life stages, while preserving our valuable local environment and resources.”
These changes to Otay Ranch Village 13 are part of a recent lawsuit settlement thatresolves litigation filed by a coalition of environmental parties and the CaliforniaAttorney General against Otay Ranch Village 13’s developers and the County of SanDiego. The litigation stemmed from the County Board of Supervisors’ 2020 approval of the project, according to the statement.
“Endangered Habitats League supports this innovative plan to preserve the most important habitat for the Quino checkerspot butterfly, improve fire safety, effectively mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, but also increase the number of homes provided,” said Silver. “It shows what can be accomplished when environmentalists and housing developers work together.”
David Hogan, legal committee chair for the San Diego Chapter of Sierra Club, also addressed the new plan.
“San Diego is a global epicenter for biological diversity, including many animals and plants found nowhere else on Earth,” said Hogan. “This settlement proves that we don’t have to choose between housing and environmental protection. It ensures a better balance of protection of our special nature with homes for people.”
The settlement also requires several measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including:
A senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity Peter J. Broderick spoke on the announcement.
“This agreement will allow San Diego residents to breathe a little easier while giving struggling plants and animals in the area a chance to survive,” Broderick said. “The realities of a warming planet and an extinction crisis mean we have to build responsibly and with climate resiliency in mind.”
Spokesperson Frank Landis of the California Native Plant Society shared his thoughts.
“This agreement protects endangered San Diego thornmint, and acorns and cuttings from rare oaks displaced by the project will be grown out and incorporated into the landscaping of the project,” Landis said. “We look forward to working with the developers to create more resilient and sustainable homes for people and wildlife.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta released a statement on the settlement, Thursday, saying:
"From Los Angeles to San Diego, we are seeing devastating wildfires ravaging our communities right before our eyes. We can no longer ignore the realities of climate change. Today's settlement recognizes that environmental protection and housing go hand in hand, aiming to create more resilient, sustainable homes while reducing wildfire risk and protecting our environment."
Along with the Preserve Wild Santee group, the environmental plaintiffs included the Sierra Club, California Native Plant Society, Center for Biological Diversity, California Chaparral Institute, and Endangered Habitats League. Chatten-Brown Law Group represented the Sierra Club.
For all general inquiries about Otay Ranch Homes, visit www.otayranch.com. Join the conversation about Otay Ranch by Baldwin &; Sons on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/OtayRanchHomes and on Instagram.com.