WalkSanDiego testified Monday night, September 23, at the City of San Diego's City Council hearing on the City of Villages growth strategy. The strategy is an amendment to the city's General Plan, which guides future growth. Sixty speakers signed up to speak in favor, while 45 put in speaker slips to oppose adoption of the strategy. Many of those opposed cited what they consider poor growth practices and infrastructure maintenance over the preceding 30 years. Others feared the impact of more growth on their communities.

WalkSanDiego's Andy Hamilton, testified in part, as follows:

"I have to question opponents who say 'We already have a village in our neighborhood.' The definition of a village is a neighborhood center where you can reach multiple destinations on foot. If all this strategy means is adding density, the opponents are right, we shouldn't undertake it. But a true village creates an opportunity for a different lifestyle, one not dependent on automobiles. In addition to walking, the proposed strategy envisions a greater role for transit. Viable (that is, frequent and convenient) transit is possible only as a connector between dense villages. In fact, that's all that successful transit systems have ever been. If you want good transit, you must have dense villages.

A village also encompasses a mix of uses within walking distance. Look, for example, at Hillcrest. Recently, WalkSanDiego collaborated on a pedestrian improvement project with the Uptown Partnership. As part of that project, we surveyed people at the City Fest street fair in August. Out of 162 respondents, every single one indicated they have incorporated walking as part of their weekly routine. The greatest percentage walk for exercise, but two-thirds said they walk to reach destinations such as shopping, the bus stop, etc. That is, they use walking as transportation. How many neighborhoods even come close to that? A village is not just more density. It's something more, and the proposed City of Villages framework lays this out.

I urge you to adopt the City of Villages and proceed with designating the first three pilot villages. Then, it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure these are excellent examples of the village concept. If we implement these correctly, I predict that the opposing neighborhoods will come before you in ten years begging to have their own village. That should be the goal of this process."

Due to the number of public speakers, the City Council did not act on the proposal, but continued the meeting to a date in October. Council action is expected at that meeting.