ENCINITAS — For the third time in its history, Encinitas voters have rejected a Housing Element update at the ballot box, leaving the city out of compliance with state housing law and setting up a potential confrontation with Sacramento. The special election measure, which would have designated sites for higher-density housing development throughout the city, was defeated by a margin of 56% to 44%.
The result underscores the unique political dynamic in Encinitas, which is the only city in California where voters must approve any change to land-use plans that allows increased building density. This requirement, established by Proposition A in 2013, effectively gives residents veto power over the Housing Element — the state-mandated document that identifies where and how a city will accommodate its share of regional housing growth.
Bruce Ehlers, a slow-growth advocate who helped lead the opposition campaign, argued that the voters had spoken clearly once again. The people of Encinitas, he said, don't want Sacramento telling them what to build and where. Residents have a right to protect their neighborhoods, their views, and their quality of life, and the state needs to respect that.
State Pressure Intensifies
But the state's patience with Encinitas is wearing thin. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has warned the city that continued non-compliance could trigger enforcement actions, including the loss of local control over land-use decisions — ironically, the very thing the rejection was meant to preserve. Without a certified Housing Element, Encinitas is also vulnerable to builder's remedy projects that can bypass local zoning entirely.
Councilmember Tony Kranz, who supported the measure, warned that the city was on a dangerous path. While he said he understood concerns about density and change, the law is the law, and the state has tools to force compliance. By rejecting the plan, he cautioned, the city may end up with development that's worse than what voters turned down.
The city council must now decide how to proceed. Options include attempting another ballot measure with a modified plan, negotiating directly with HCD for an extension, or facing potential legal action. Housing advocates argue that Encinitas' repeated rejections have contributed to the regional affordability crisis by blocking the construction of desperately needed new homes in a high-demand coastal area. The debate over growth, character, and state mandates will continue to define Encinitas politics for years to come.