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Approval of Land Exchange Breathes New Life into the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan

"We just took two enormous steps ahead," said Cheryl Cox, Mayor of Chula Vista. "This is a massive opportunity and the step to the next step."

The Board of Port Commissioners adopted a resolution on February 2, 2010, approving a land exchange between the Port and North C.V. Waterfront L.P., also known as Pacifica. The land exchange is the first step in the redevelopment of the Chula Vista bayfront, which will include a balance of jobs, environmental buffers, housing and recreation.

The land exchange will swap 97 acres owned by Pacifica Holdings, which are located near an environmentally sensitive area, with 35 acres closer to the harbor of Chula Vista. Doing so would keep development away from the National Wildlife Refuge and the Chula Vista Nature Center, and move it to the more active harbor area. Moving development to this area would also be more economically feasible.

In addition to the land exchange, the Board of Port Commissioners approved a second amendment to the relocation agreement between the City of Chula Vista, the redevelopment agency of the City of Chula Vista, the San Diego Unified Port District and Rohr, Inc., operating as Goodrich Aerostructures. The agreement was necessary because it facilitates the possible location of residential development near Goodrich's existing manufacturing operations. The agreement also supports the continued clean-up of environmental contaminants from historic manufacturing operations on Goodrich's former south campus.

The second amendment to the agreement will create a 1,200-foot setback between proposed residential developments and existing manufacturing operations. It also ensures that proposed future residential development and existing manufacturing operations on the bay front co-exist as "good neighbors."

Now that the land exchange has been approved by the Board of Port Commissioners, it faces approval by the State Lands Commission. In addition, it is subject to certain discretionary conditions precedent involving actions and approvals by other parties, including certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report and approval of the Port Master Plan Amendment. The City of Chula Vista and its redevelopment agency must also approve the Final Environmental Impact Report and the Local Coastal Program Amendment. Finally, the Port's Master Plan Amendment and the City's Local Coastal Program Amendment must be approved by the California Coastal Commission.

If these approvals are met, then it paves the way for redevelopment to occur on the 550-acre site under the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan. A joint planning effort of the Port, the City of Chula Vista and Pacifica, the project has been in the works for years. It includes a possible resort hotel and convention center, residential development, parkland, open space, office/commercial, recreation, retail and cultural areas. The project will also improve roadways and infrastructure.