Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan

Port Disappointed in Gaylord's Withdrawal From Project

jgilmore@portofsandiego.org (John Gilmore (619) 686-7206 (619) 341-5684) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:34:09 +0000

The Port of San Diego said today it is disappointed by Gaylord Entertainment's decision to end its plans for a $1 billion hotel and convention center on the Chula Vista bay front.

The Nashville, Tenn.-based company, which operates several resorts and country music's Grand Ole Opry, announced today that it was withdrawing from the project that figured prominently in the Port of San Diego's Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan. The company and Port have been negotiating a lease for the property and the 1,500 to 2,000-room hotel and convention center.

"We're deeply disappointed," Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Michael Bixler said. "This was a project that could have provided a much-needed economic stimulus to Chula Vista and the South Bay area. Obviously, we will seek other opportunities."

Gaylord said the Chula Vista plan was being dropped because of complicated regulatory and legal requirements, off-site infrastructure costs and prolonged planning.

The Port acknowledged the stringent regulatory requirements that are unique to California. Approval was required by at least 10 regulatory agencies, including the California Coastal Commission, the state Lands Commission, the state Air Resources Board, and the local water board.

The infrastructure costs for preparing the land for the Chula Vista project is estimated to be about $200 million.

In May, the Port released a revised Environmental Impact Report for the 556-acre project. It received more than 900 comments and since then Port staff has been working to answer each one.

Representatives from the Port's Land Use and Environmental divisions are assessing the impact of Gaylord's withdrawal from the project and determining the next step in planning for the bay front development.

Public Review Period for Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report Extended

gbatuyon@portofsandiego.org (Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:46:11 +0000

The public review period for the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan and Port Master Plan Amendment revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been extended an additional 30 days. The extended public review period will conclude at 5 p.m. on August 7, 2008.

Written comments stating specific environmental concerns with the revised Draft EIR will be accepted until this time and should be addressed to: San Diego Unified Port District, Land Use Planning Department, P.O. Box 120488, San Diego, CA 92112-0488.

The Draft EIR for the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan was revised and recirculated for public review on May 23, 2008. The report addresses possible environmental effects from the proposed development including traffic, aesthetics, water and air quality, noise, biological resources, and other factors.

A joint planning effort of the Port of San Diego, the City of Chula Vista and Pacifica Companies, the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan will guide the development of the Chula Vista bayfront over an approximately 24-year period. The project includes three distinct areas - the Sweetwater, Harbor and Otay Districts, that will incorporate a mix of parkland, open space, ecological buffers, hotel and conference space, office/commercial, recreation, retail, residential and cultural areas. It also includes a development resort and convention center proposed by Gaylord Entertainment and the residential development proposed by Pacifica Companies. The project also will improve roadways and infrastructure, as well as reconfigure the marina basin and boat slips, realign the existing navigational channel and add a new commercial harbor.

The public may review the revised Draft EIR during business hours at the Office of the Port District Clerk, located in the Port's Administration Building at 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego. The document can also be viewed on the Port's webpage. In addition, copies of the revised Draft EIR are available for review at the following public libraries:

Port Completes Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan

Fri, 23 May 2008 22:35:25 +0000

The Port of San Diego has updated the Draft Environmental Impact Report that focuses on a master plan which will transform the Chula Vista bay front with a convention center, new hotels, condominiums, parks, and provide better access to the waterfront.

The 10,069-page report analyzes the possible environmental effects the 556-acre project will have on such areas as traffic, aesthetics, biological resources, water and air quality, noise, and other factors.

CVBMP Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report- Executive Summary (4.24 MB)

As part of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan, the Port envisions development occurring during the next 24 years. Included would be Gaylord Entertainment's proposed $1 billion 2,000-room hotel and convention center, Pacifica Companies' proposed 1,500 condos and a 250-room hotel, plus offices, retail and entertainment venues and recreational features. The project also includes a new commercial harbor, a reconfigured marina basin and boat slips and realignment of the navigation channel.

The initial draft environmental report was released nearly two years ago. The Port received 58 comment letters totaling more than 700 pages from individuals, organizations, as well as federal, state, and local agencies. Based on those comments, the Port has made many revisions to the Draft Environmental Impact Report.

Some of the key revisions include: Pacifica Companies initially proposed 2,000 residential units, which now number 1,500. No longer are there plans to build a power plant in the southern portion of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan area. Additional information on the design of the proposed Gaylord and Pacifica developments is analyzed in the revised Draft Environmental Report. Global Warming and its impacts are also analyzed in the updated report.

The revised report is available for review at the Port District clerk's office, 3165 Pacific Highway in San Diego. A CD of the report can be obtained by contacting Lesley Nishihira, Associate Redevelopment Planner, at (619) 686-6283.

Map and directions

In addition, the report can be viewed at:

San Diego Public Library, Downtown/Central Branch -
820 E St., San Diego, 92101
San Diego County Library, South County Branch-
500 Third Avenue, Chula Vista, 91910
Chula Vista City Library, Civic Center Branch-
365 F St., Chula Vista, 91910
Chula Vista City Library, South Chula Vista Branch-
389 Orange Ave., Chula Vista, 91911
Chula Vista City Library, Eastlake Branch-
1120 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista, 91915

The revised report will be available for public review and comment for 45 days, beginning on May 23 and ending on July 8. Sometime in June, the Port will hold an informational meeting on the latest report.

The Port of San Diego is a public benefit corporation and special government entity. Created in 1962 by an act of the California legislature, the Port manages San Diego harbor and the public land along San Diego Bay. The Port has operated without tax dollars since 1970 and has invested $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities - Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego. With a $10.6 billion economic impact in the San Diego region, the Port oversees two marine terminals, a cruise ship terminal, 16 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, a Harbor Police Department and the leases of more than 600 tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.

Demolition of Three Former Warehouse Buildings on Chula Vista Waterfront Begins

clucke@portofsandiego.org (CJ Lucke) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:47:58 +0000

Project will prepare the site for future redevelopment

Work has begun on a project that will clear a portion of the bayfront of Chula Vista for future redevelopment. Three industrial buildings, totaling 145,000 square feet, will be demolished. The buildings are located at Marina Parkway and Sandpiper Way, near the Chula Vista Marina.

The buildings were formerly occupied by AFS Industries, Inc., a company that made modular classroom structures. AFS Industries, Inc. leased the site from the Port of San Diego until March 2006. The buildings have been empty since then.

Whillock Contracting will perform the demolition at a cost of $475,000. It is anticipated that the buildings will be down by June. In addition to the demolition, work includes the abatement of hazardous building materials, water quality protection, recycling and properly disposing of demolition material and hazardous waste.

This project is the fourth in a series of demolition contracts awarded by the Port to free up valuable land needed for the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan. Last May, the Port completed the demolition of 63 structures that were part of the former Goodrich South Campus.

The Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan is a project that will redevelop 550 acres with a mix of parkland, open space, environmental buffers, civic/cultural uses, hotel, office, residential, retail, entertainment and recreational areas.

Views and Access to San Diego Bay Improve with Completion of South Campus Demolition

ltang@beyondideas.com (Contact: Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 08:00:00 +0000

Port of San Diego project in Chula Vista removed 61 structures

If you regularly travel south on Interstate 5 towards Chula Vista, you may notice something different if you look off to the western horizon by the H Street exit. Gone are the old industrial buildings with boarded up windows that haven’t been used in years. Replacing the 61 buildings is an 83-acre open piece of land that is a vital component of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan.

The buildings belonged to the former Goodrich South Campus and became part of a 1999 relocation agreement between the Port of San Diego, Rohr Industries, operating as Goodrich, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista and the City of Chula Vista. The agreement provided for a series of land transactions that delivered to the Port the consolidated, 83-acre parcel of property with redevelopment potential.

In Sept. 2005, the Port of San Diego began the first phase of the South Campus demolition project. In that phase, 18 structures were razed. TEG/LVI Environmental Services was the contractor for the project, which was completed at a cost of $952,587. Along with the removal of the buildings, this phase entailed the removal of utilities, installation of storm water pollution prevention equipment and removal of hazardous building materials. About 86% of reusable materials were recycled in this phase.

Phase 2 of the demolition project began in April 2006 and included the removal of 28 buildings. The cost of this phase was $709,450 and the contractor was CST Environmental, Inc. As in the first phase, abatement work on hazardous materials was performed, and 92% of the materials were recycled.

The Port and the City of Chula Vista held a joint celebration in May 2007 to kick off the third phase of the demolition project. At $3.6 million, this was the most expensive portion. Miller Environmental Inc. was the contractor and the project resulted in the removal of the last 15 buildings, which totaled 220,000 square feet. In addition, hazardous materials were removed along with the utilities and joint trenches beneath the H Street corridor, where five buildings stood. Foundation slabs from these buildings were also removed to make way for the future reconstruction of H Street. Eventually H Street will provide direct access to the waterfront. Approximately 88% of reusable materials were recycled during this phase.

The South Campus demolition project not only improved the aesthetics of an area cluttered with worn structures containing hazardous materials, it now frees up valuable land for the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan. The plan is a joint project between the Port and the City of Chula Vista and will include a mixture of land uses.

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