North Embarcadero Visionary Plan

Lawsuit Challenging Port of San Diego’s Waterfront Project Dismissed

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:53:05 +0000

A lawsuit challenging a major waterfront project by the Port of San Diego and city has been dismissed.

The lawsuit, which was filed by a group called Public Rights to Bay Access and Parks, attempted to set aside the Board of Port Commissioners approval of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase 1 Coastal Access Features Project. The group had alleged the Port violated numerous provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, the California Coastal Act and that the Port did not properly analyze the effects of other bay front projects on the area.

The Port was notified last week of the plaintiffs’ voluntary dismissal of the suit.

The $200 million North Embarcadero Visionary Plan will transform the downtown waterfront. In July, the Board of Port Commissioners approved the issuance of a Coastal Development Permit to begin the first phase of the project.

The $28.6 million first phase includes a makeover for Harbor Drive and West Broadway from Navy Pier to B Street. The first phase consists of a 105-foot wide esplanade with a promenade, garden areas, public art, kiosks, a new restroom and other infrastructure improvements.

Although the lawsuit has been dismissed, there is an appeal pending before the California Coastal Commission. A hearing is expected to be held early next year on that appeal. The project cannot proceed until the California Coastal Commission issues a Coastal Development Permit.

Public Workshop Set to Discuss North Embarcadero Port Master Plan Amendment

clucke@portofsandiego.org (CJ Lucke) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:30:11 +0000

The Port of San Diego is hosting a Public Scoping Meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2009, from 5–7 p.m. at the Embarcadero Planning Center (formerly Coral Reef Restaurant) at 585 Harbor Lane (map), San Diego, California. The meeting is to solicit public comments regarding the scope and content of the environmental evaluation for significant issues related to the North Embarcadero Port Master Plan Amendment.

The Port has prepared a Notice of Preparation, which initiates the Port's compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act for the proposed Amendment to the Port Master Plan. The Notice of Preparation is the first step in the California Environmental Quality Act process. Public comments are requested within thirty (30) days of the Notice of Preparation being issued. Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on November 2, 2009. For further information about how to submit comments, please read the Notice of Preparation.

The proposed Master Plan Amendment includes the following:

Adjust the Port Master Plan boundary to incorporate the Navy Pier.
Assign land use designation(s) and future projects to the Navy Pier including a park.
Remove reference and graphic providing a new curvilinear pier at Grape Street.
Change Commercial Recreation use on B Street Pier to Marine Terminal.
Incorporate the constraints of homeland security requirements on maritime facilities and public access.
Incorporate a Bayfront shuttle.
Incorporate a new youth hostel as a permitted use.
Specify excursion facility locations.
Recognize the G Street Mole park as a memorial park.
Assign development parameters and standards to 1220 Pacific Highway.
Incorporate Port Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into the delineation and area calculations throughout Planning District 3.
Incorporate other Port Master Plan text, land use and graphic modifications as needed.

Both land use changes only and descriptions for potential facilities would be part of the Port Master Plan Amendment. Changes to the components listed above or the addition of new components may occur as a result of public comments and/or through internal processes. No permits for specific developments would be issued as a result of this Port Master Plan Amendment and the California Environmental Quality Act evaluation.

For any questions, please contact Senior Redevelopment Planner Matt Valerio at 619-686-7269.

Port Approves Coastal Development Permit for North Embarcadero Visionary Plan

melicone@portofsandiego.org (Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:38:21 +0000

The Board of Port Commissioners unanimously approved the issuance of an appealable coastal development permit for the first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, which is part of a years-long transformation along the waterfront.

The decision, made at today’s Board of Port Commissioners meeting, paves the way for construction to proceed on the ambitious project that has been planned for more than 10 years.

The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan covers about a mile and a half of waterfront on Harbor Drive in San Diego from Laurel Street to the G Street Mole. It will enliven the area with widened sidewalks, landscaping, public art and gathering spaces. The first phase includes an area on Harbor Drive from the Navy Pier to the B Street Pier and a portion of West Broadway from the railroad tracks, just past Pacific Highway to the intersection of Harbor Drive.

The project is a collaboration between the Port, Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) and the City of San Diego.

Commissioner William Hall, who served on the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan’s original board several years ago, praised the evolution of the project.

“This is laudable,” he said. “The plan is much better than when I was involved with it. It’s a great project.”

Commissioner Scott Peters also commended the project.

“This project will beautify the waterfront and make it a cool place to go to,” he said. “Congratulations to the staff and the JPA (Joint Powers Authority) for coming up with a plan that will draw people to the waterfront.”

The JPA sets the framework for financing the project and provides that each agency will use its best efforts to procure available funding from sources such as lease revenues, capital development programs, grants and federal and state funds. The three JPA Board members are Kevin Faulconer, San Diego City council member; Stephen P. Cushman, Chairman, Board of Port Commissioners and Fred Maas, Chair, CCDC.

Council member Faulconer, who was in the audience said:

“No matter what part of town you’re from, this project will benefit you. I strongly support it. The vision, the front step, originated right here at the Port. This is a project that everyone throughout the region can be proud of. When I was elected council member, I pledged to get this thing moving. This is a project that enjoys strong support. My colleagues on the City Council support it for what it means to the region.”

In a related action item, the Board approved an amendment to the JPA agreement, which allows the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Diego, acting through CCDC, to loan the Port about $8.5 million. Interest will accrue at a rate of 4.77 percent on the advanced funds.

The Port had originally counted on revenue from the proposed Lane Field development, which includes two new hotels, to help pay for the Port’s share of the first phase costs. The estimated total cost is $28.6 million, which is to be split between the Port and CCDC.

Because the Lane Field developers have requested additional time to come up with financing for their project, the Port needed to look elsewhere for its share of the first phase funding.

May 28 Joint Powers Authority Meeting Postponed

Thu, 14 May 2009 16:59:30 +0000

The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Joint Powers Authority meeting scheduled for May 28, 2009 has been postponed due to a scheduling conflict.

The meeting will be rescheduled for a yet to be determined date. Once the new date is confirmed, a notice will be posted on the websites of both the Port of San Diego and the Centre City Development Corporation.

Joint Powers Authority for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan to Meet on March 26

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:45:07 +0000

The Joint Powers Authority (JPA) for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan (NEVP) will meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. The meeting will be held in the Board Room of the Port of San Diego Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego.

The JPA will hear an update on the public art proposal which is in design development. Los Angeles artist Pae White was selected by the JPA in 2007 to work with the design team to incorporate public art into the project's first phase. Her innovative proposal includes artistic pavilions and a public restroom overlaid with words. The artfully designed structures incorporate strategically placed open letters which will allow sunlight to shine through. The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan's Public Art Committee approved the most recent version of her proposal on March 17.

The agenda also fine tunes the Uniform Control Plan approved by the JPA Board at last month's JPA Board meeting. The Uniform Control Plan is a set of documents that memorializes the design agreements reached by all stakeholders, public and private, for public improvements adjacent to the four private development parcels at the intersection of Pacific Highway and West Broadway. Other agenda items include the discussion of construction funding, maintenance funding and other project updates.

The NEVP is a project that will transform the waterfront of San Diego Bay from Laurel Street to the G Street Mole. It will improve the area by widening the pedestrian areas, adding landscaping, public art and gathering spaces. The first phase, which is expected to break ground late this year, covers an area on Harbor Drive from the former Navy Pier to B Street and a portion of West Broadway from the railroad tracks just past Pacific Highway to the intersection of Harbor Drive.

The project is a collaboration between the Port of San Diego, Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) and the City of San Diego.

Members of the JPA include Kevin Faulconer, Council Member, City of San Diego; Stephen P. Cushman, Chairman, Board of Port Commissioners and Fred Maas, Chair, CCDC.

Meeting Set for North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Joint Powers Authority

bmoreno@portofsandiego.org (Barbara Moreno) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:03:30 +0000

The Joint Powers Authority of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan is set to meet on Thursday, March 26. The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. at the Port of San Diego Administration Building, at 3165 Pacific Highway, in the Board Room. Agenda highlights include: approval of Revision No. 1 to the Unified Control Plan (Four-Corner Developer Coordination), construction funding and maintenance funding. The meeting is open to the public.

The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan is a project that will transform the waterfront of San Diego Bay from Laurel Street to the G Street Mole. It will improve the area by widening the pedestrian areas, adding landscaping, public art and gathering spaces. The project is a collaboration between the Port of San Diego, Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) and the City of San Diego.

NEVP Public Art Committee Meeting Agenda Posted

bmoreno@portofsandiego.org (Barbara Moreno) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:34:21 +0000

The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Public Art Committee meeting will be held Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at 11 a.m. in the Port Administration Building's First Floor Training Room. Agenda highlights include new member orientation and approval of the art proposal in design development for Phase 1.

NEVP PAC Public Meeting Agenda 3-17-09

NEVP PAC 9-17-08 Minutes

Progress of First Phase Design for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan to be Focus of Public Meeting

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:29:54 +0000

The Port of San Diego, Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) and the City of San Diego are hosting a public meeting for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan. The meeting will be begin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2009 at the Port's Embarcadero Planning Center, 585 Harbor Lane (map), just north of Seaport Village.

At the meeting, the public can review the progress of the first phase design and provide input. The update will emphasize the architecture and public art. In June 2007, artist Pae White was selected to incorporate public art into the project. In September 2008, the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Public Art Committee and the Joint Powers Authority Board approved her proposal to incorporate art into the pavilions, information center and public restroom. Preliminary renderings of the architectural elements with her design will be presented at the meeting.

In addition, the public can comment on the environmental evaluation required by the California Environmental Quality Act for Phase 1 of the project, which is available from the Port of San Diego's Land Use Planning Department.

The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan is a joint project between the Port, CCDC and the City of San Diego. The project will transform a 1.2-mile stretch of Harbor Drive from Laurel Street to the G Street Mole with public gathering spaces, widened esplanades, gardens and improved pedestrian access. Construction will occur in phases, with the first phase incorporating an area from the former Navy Pier to the B Street Pier. This phase also includes roadway improvements on West Broadway from Harbor Drive to the railroad tracks. The first phase is anticipated to begin construction later this year.

Parking information for meeting: Please park in the metered spots. The Port of San Diego will not enforce the meters during this meeting. Please do not park in spots marked "permit only". These spots are reserved for Seaport Village employees.

Public Invited to Attend Meeting on the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:51:20 +0000

Please join the Port of San Diego, the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) and the City of San Diego at a public meeting for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, at the Port's Embarcadero Planning Center, 585 Harbor Lane (map), just north of Seaport Village.

The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to review the progress of the first phase design and provide input. This update will emphasize architecture and public art.

In addition, public comment will be accepted regarding the environmental evaluation prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act for Phase 1 of the project, which is available from the Port of San Diego's Land Use Planning Department. The public notice can be downloaded here.

More information can be found on the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan project page.

North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Joint Powers Authority Meeting

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:38:26 +0000

The Joint Powers Authority of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan will hold its first meeting of 2009 at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22. The meeting will be held in the Board Room of the Port of San Diego's Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway.

Map to Port of San Diego

The first phase of the project is scheduled to begin late this year. It includes the design and construction of the esplanade and roadway improvements on Harbor Drive from Broadway to B Street. It also includes a portion of West Broadway from the railroad tracks east of Pacific Highway to the intersection of Harbor Drive. Thursday's meeting agenda includes a discussion of maintenance costs and funding options and a design update including information on coordination efforts with several private development projects in the area.

A Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the City of San Diego, CCDC and the Port of San Diego was approved in July 2006. The JPA sets the framework for financing the project and provides that each entity will use its best efforts to procure available funding from sources such as lease revenues, capital development programs, grants and federal and state funds. The three JPA Board members are Kevin Faulconer, San Diego City council member; Stephen P. Cushman, Chairman, Board of Port Commissioners and Fred Maas, Chair, CCDC.

View the JPA meeting agenda