Judge Denies Union’s Challenge

Thursday, 11 December 2008
Contact: John Gilmore (619) 686-7206 (619) 341-5684

A Superior Court judge has denied a local labor union's challenge to a major Port of San Diego project that includes the construction of two hotels on Lane Field, the former home of the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres.

The written ruling was released this week by Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Prager who denied Unite-Here Local 30's claim that the Port's environmental review of the development was inadequate.

The union, comprised of workers in the airport, gaming and retail industries, filed the lawsuit after the Board of Port Commissioners approved a coastal development permit for the project in January 2008. The lawsuit challenged the Board's approval under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), arguing that the Port should prepare a new environmental impact report because of inadequacies in a number of areas such as possible soil contamination and air quality.

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, one with 275 rooms and the other with 525 rooms, with parking for more than 1,300 vehicles.

Before building can begin, the development must be approved by the California Coastal Commission. The commission will hold a hearing at its Jan. 8 meeting in the Oceanside City Council chambers to consider Unite-Here's challenge of the project.

 

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