Project Preview Process for Board Approval

Tuesday, 06 November 2007

Preliminary Project Review

This is the initial step in the project review process for those projects requiring Board approval. In some cases, projects may be approved administratively. Staff will review the project for compliance with lease issues, the Port Master Plan, CEQA, and other regulatory and landlord issues. If the project is determined to be exempt under CEQA and excluded under the California Coastal Act, the Board may grant concept approval at this time following staff’s review and recommendation on the project. If further environmental processing is needed, staff must request authorization from the Board of Port Commissioners (BPC). Environmental processing must be completed prior to the BPC granting concept approval. (Allow approximately 2 to 3 months for staff review and BPC direction to proceed with environmental review.)

The applicant is required to make a Power Point presentation to the Board of Port Commissioners.

• Environmental Processing
  All projects must be reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A determination will be made regarding the environmental document, if any, that will be needed for the project (i.e., Negative Declaration (ND) or Environmental Impact Report (EIR)). The environmental document requires BPC approval. (Following BPC approval of the Preliminary Project Review, and depending on the determination made, allow approximately 3 months processing time for an ND and approximately 12 to 14 months for an EIR.)
• Coastal Processing
  All projects must be reviewed for conformity with the certified Port Master Plan. A determination will be made as to whether or not a Coastal Development Permit is required for the project. Issuance of the Coastal Development Permit, if needed, requires BPC approval. Coastal processing can run concurrently with environmental processing.
• Concept Approval
  Concept approval may be granted following the completion of environmental processing and coastal processing. Concept approval can be granted concurrently with the approval of the environmental document and Coastal Development Permit. (Allow approximately 30 days for BPC approval of the CEQA document, Coastal Development Permit issuance, and the final project concept.)
• Working Drawings
  Once concept approval is obtained, working drawings must be submitted for District review and approval prior to the start of construction. Working drawings do not require BPC approval unless they change significantly from the approved concept. (Allow 2 to 3 months for staff review of drawings if concept remains the same, additional time if there are major changes.)