D.R. Horton’s 130-home project on Radio Towers Hill in Encanto advances after Planning Commission approval. Community groups oppose the plan and plan to appeal, citing historic code changes and advocating for a public landmark. Final City Council review is pending in early 2026.
A 31-acre hilltop site known as Radio Towers Hill in Southeastern San Diego is at the center of ongoing controversy following a Planning Commission vote in favor of a residential development, according to reporting by Voice of San Diego. The commission voted unanimously on November 20 to support a plan by D.R. Horton, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, to construct 130 single-family homes on the property.
The parcel, situated in the Encanto and Emerald Hills neighborhoods, offers panoramic views of the San Diego-Tijuana coastal region. The proposed development would include privately managed amenities such as pocket parks, designed to serve residents within the project rather than the broader public. The project’s approval has drawn attention due to prior municipal code changes that allowed smaller lot sizes in historically redlined neighborhoods.
Known as Footnote 7, the regulation temporarily reduced the minimum lot size from 20,000 SF to 5,000 SF specifically in Black and Latino communities, including Emerald Hills and Encanto. Community advocates have argued that this code change enabled the D.R. Horton project to move forward. By the time Footnote 7 was rescinded, the project was already in the city’s development pipeline.
The Chollas Valley Community Planning Group voted 13-0 against the project and plans to formally appeal the Planning Commission’s decision. City Council consideration is not expected before January 2026. Activists and local residents are pursuing alternative strategies, including grassroots campaigns, public-private partnerships and engagement with elected officials to explore potential changes to the development process or site use.
Community members have highlighted broader concerns about historic underinvestment in Southeastern San Diego, including limited access to parks, infrastructure, and commercial districts. The site was previously owned by the City of San Diego from 1977 to 1997, and some local leaders are advocating for its redevelopment as a regional landmark accessible to the public.
The developer intends to proceed under existing approvals, and the property is currently in private ownership. Local activists have established the campaign “Hold the Hill” to coordinate efforts to influence the development process and advocate for alternative uses. The effort includes fundraising through a GoFundMe campaign to support community engagement.
The outcome of the appeal and broader public discussions will determine whether the Radio Towers Hill parcel remains slated for private residential development or could be repurposed as a community-focused landmark.