Connecting with my local community is a truly reciprocal gain.  I love working with others in problem-solving complex situations. Couple this with the opportunity to engage and inspire others to make this a better place to live and my time spent with community organizing while I’m listing and selling homes has become one of the most exciting things I’ve ever been involved with.

Recent circumstances provided the golden opportunity to connect with my neighbors in ways that utilize my passion and experience in real estate while genuinely contributing to the future of the entire neighborhood’s design. Let me provide a bit of back-story.

When the City of San Diego unveiled its desire to change and update our local Community Plan, it was a natural fit for me to build a website using my experience with residential planning codes and the process by which community plans are developed in order for residents to understand the plan for future development. That site is now completed and can be accessed at understandtheplan.info.

San Diego County’s Regional Plan finalized in 2008 and is currently being implemented on the local level by the city’s Planning Department.  Huge changes to our transit systems and residential community layouts will be made to accommodate visions and goals for density, linked transportation systems, affordable housing, vehicle use control and neighborhood diversification. Without an understanding of some of the simplest development proposals, my neighbors could be caught unaware that some goals of the City’s plan may be implemented without regard to other equally important goals.  

For example: The Morena Blvd Station Area Planning Study that the city planners finalized in February 2014 seeks to change zoning and land use designations to increase density (number of living units) in our neighborhood without codifying (making it ‘law’ or incorporating into the Municipal Code) any of the other goals of the study such as green building practices, zero-net energy, green area ratios, walkability and bike-ability.  It will take the residents of the community to stand up and voice support for such codification prior to approving and re-zoning or land use changes.

Providing accurate unbiased information about the City’s plan helps ensure that residents can actually shape the coming development to increase the quality of life of the entire community.

I’ve been a full-time Real Estate Broker for over 33 years and it has given me a unique insight into residents’ desires in regards to home- ownership.  My years of representing Buyers and Sellers across San Diego County has made me familiar with the unique character of individual neighborhoods.

My public speaking ability and familiarity of marketing has greatly facilitated my goal in helping local community members organize so that they can retain their neighborhood’s nature and quality of life, protect their Scenic Vistas, and ensure that the City fairly and equally implements all of the goals of the Community and General Plans.

Closing over 2,400 real estate transactions, including sales and financing of homes, I bring experienced negotiation skills that will be helpful as public and private interests must coincide to reach the goals of the City and County’s General Plans.

 

 

• Active local residential Real Estate Broker: Residing on Fairfield Street in Bay Park, James is determined to help local residents understand the City and County plans which could over-densify Bay Park, Bay Ho, and Overlook Heights if left unchecked.   Calif RE Lic#00806735
• Fund Raiser: Contributes $500 of every escrow he closes in Bay Park, Bay Ho and Overlook Heights toward the Raise The Balloon Fund.  If you have a home to sell or know a buyer who needs an agent,  please refer them to James and help raise the fund!
• Knowledgeable: Experienced with the workings of City and County General Plan changes and the process of amending those plans.
• Webmaster: Created Raise The Balloon and Understand The Plan websites.
• Community Organizer:   Helped initiate Raise The Balloon March, and with Balloon Committee members, continues working to educate and prepare residents in their efforts to get their voices heard in the process of the planned development in our communities.
• Speaker: Holds local educational and informational meetings in your neighborhood, community organizations and clubs,  for those wanting to know more about the City and County’s plans for our areas and what we can do about it!
• Contact me whether you have questions about the City or County’s plans, would like to set up an educational or informational meeting for your neighbors,  or if you plan to buy or sell a home anywhere in San Diego County.   Visit James LaMattery Realtors website.