At the Politifest North County event on Oct. 2, Democratic candidate for the District 5 Board of Supervisors, Kyle Krahel, warned that San Diego County’s vehicle‑miles‑travelled (VMT) policy is unintentionally driving homebuyers toward Riverside County.
VMT policy’s intended purpose
State law requires developers of projects in unincorporated areas to calculate the vehicle miles their future residents will travel. The goal is to reduce traffic, lower travel costs, and cut greenhouse‑gas emissions. When a development’s projected mileage is high, developers must offset the impact—often by building bike lanes or paying a substantial fee.
Candidate’s criticism
Krahel, who is running against Republican San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, said the rule has become a “major obstacle” for building in the county’s unincorporated zones. “Let’s be honest, we have a vehicle‑miles‑travelled policy that’s supposed to reduce driving and emissions and all it’s doing is driving people to buy homes in Riverside County,” he told the audience. He called the current approach “not an effective vehicle‑miles‑travelled policy.”
Current exemption and proposed changes
The county presently uses an exemption known as 15183, which lets developers skip VMT calculations if a project conforms to the county’s general plan. Krahel said he does not yet have a detailed replacement for the policy, but he pledged to convene developers, environmental groups, and local residents to craft a more balanced solution.
Streamlining approvals and strategic building
Beyond VMT reform, Krahel wants to speed up approvals for housing projects that already meet the general plan and to eliminate duplicate environmental analyses. He also urged county leaders to focus new construction on areas with existing infrastructure, such as the village centers of Fallbrook and Valley Center. “These village centers are identified in the county plan, and when you go to the communities, you see they have a central urbanized core,” he explained. “That way we’re not having to spend huge amounts of money getting things like sewer lines out to greenfield developments.”
Implications for voters
If elected, Krahel says his approach will lower development costs, keep more affordable housing within San Diego County, and reduce the need for residents to look across the border for cheaper homes. The stance aligns with a broader “YIMBY” (Yes‑In‑My‑Backyard) sentiment gaining traction among local developers, though it may face pushback from environmental advocates who favor stricter emissions controls.
Voters in District 5 will see Krahel’s platform on the ballot in the upcoming November election, where he and Jones will compete for the seat on the Board of Supervisors.
Original reporting: Voice of San Diego — read the source article.
