Residents protest proposed high-rise in Pacific Beach

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A proposed 23-story high-rise in Pacific Beach has sparked protests, with opposing residents taking their resistance to new heights on Saturday -- literally.

Around 9 a.m., a group of concerned citizens attempted to release balloons tied to strings with the intention of letting them float up to the prospective 238-foot height of the controversial building, which could possibly be built at 970 Turquoise St.

Though windy conditions ended up impacting their attempt, the message of the protesters remained clear: don't ruin the view of the beach community. The purpose of the balloon release, according to Scott Chipman of San Diegans for Responsible Planning, was to help the surrounding community fully grasp how tall the structure -- dubbed Turquoise Tower -- would be.

The suggested high-rise, proposed by developer Kalonymous and known as the Vela Project, would include 213 units, with only 10 reserved for low and middle-income families, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

With decades of anti-development policies across California, new affordable housing laws -- specifically the State Density Bonus Law -- will now allow for affordable housing projects to bypass the normal 30-foot height rules, including in Pacific Beach.

Critics have argued that the project is an example of the misuse of the new law, designed to incentivize the construction of affordable housing.

Kalonymus previously released this statement regarding the proposed development:

“San Diego has a well-documented shortage of homes that is making life increasingly expensive, so we need ambitious projects to truly move the needle. The project team has been working with experts for quite some time to craft a building that complies with all applicable housing laws.”

Chipman, however, said that the group San Diegans for Responsible Planning is not opposed to more housing, but is rather against " irresponsible, ridiculous housing like a 230-foot building next to little houses."

The proposed high-rise has also become a focal point in the debate over local zoning laws. If approved, the Turquoise Tower would significantly alter the skyline of Pacific Beach, a community that has adhered to a 30-foot height limit since 1972.

The City of San Diego is currently awaiting "technical guidance" from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which will help the city determine whether the project should proceed.

The debate over the Turquoise Tower and its potential impact on Pacific Beach is expected to continue to grow, with citizens voicing concerns about the future of their community’s character and the effectiveness of state laws aimed at addressing the housing crisis.