Port of San Diego's Lane Field Project Wins California Coastal Commission Approval

Thursday, 08 January 2009

 The California Coastal Commission today unanimously approved a Port project for two hotels, restaurants and retail stores on Lane Field, the former home of the San Diego Padres.

"I'm elated by today‘s decision," said Stephen Cushman, chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners, who spoke before the commission. "This definitely jumpstarts the Port's visionary plan for transforming San Diego's waterfront."

Meeting in Oceanside, the commission approved a Coastal Development Permit allowing construction of the hotel project to proceed. The permit, as amended and approved by the commission, addressed concerns raised in separate appeals filed by two California Coastal Commissioners and a labor group, Unite-Here Local 30.

The two Commissioners initially objected to the Port's approval of the Coastal Development Permit because the project included neither low-cost, visitor-serving accommodations nor a shuttle. The union challenged the project citing several issues including lack of environmental controls, public access and parking. These concerns were addressed by the Port staff, Coastal Commission staff and the developer, Lane Field Development, LLC, resulting in the inclusion of the hostel, an agreement to provide a bay-front shuttle and additional water quality protection.

Construction is expected to begin in the fall.

Besides the hotels and retail businesses, Cushman said the project will include two unique features - the hostel for the waterfront area and the bay-front summer shuttle.

"This is a first," Cushman said, referring to the hostel. The Port and developer, in conjunction with the Coastal Commission, will work to identify a site for the hostel on Port tidelands property in the City of San Diego

The development, proposed for a 5.8-acre parking lot at the foot of Broadway between Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway, would cost more than $400 million and include two hotels, a 275-room hotel still to be named, and an InterContinental with 525 rooms. There will be parking for more than 1,300 vehicles.

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