After nearly three years of revisions by California Coastal Commission (CCC) staff and the Port of San Diego, the San Diego Port Master Plan Update (PMPU) is nearing a vote before the Coastal Commission Board. The board will vote to accept or reject the plan. The decision could shape development and public access around San Diego Bay through 2050.
But key questions remain—and the public may have little time to weigh in.
The PMPU replaces only 54% of the existing Port Master Plan, leaving Chula Vista and National City under their older plans – yet the PMPU is being considered a replacement for the current plan. That raises questions about adopting baywide standards while leaving 46% of Port-controlled areas out of the update.
The Central Embarcadero, including the revitalization of Seaport Village (called Seaport), is another concern. The huge Seaport project was withdrawn from the PMPU in 2020 but has undergone environmental review, reportedly completed last November, yet has not been released.
The Port’s Update says it proposes no new uses or increased development apart from downtown’s bayside Fish Market restaurant and roadway improvements in the Central Embarcadero. How can the public and the CCC assess the plan update without clarity about what may come next? How can we trust the Port when its plans for the Central Embarcadero are so misleading?
There’s also the question of what gets lost. The Port promised a redlined version showing revisions made during this process, but a comparison against the current Master Plan is needed to identify existing commitments that may disappear—including a long-promised second major park in the North Embarcadero.
My group, the Embarcadero Coalition, repeatedly requested from both the Port and the CCC staff a detailed reconciliation of green space/parks. We want to identify every acre the public is entitled to in the current PMP but the Port deleted in the update. Neither agency complied.
CCC staff is seeking to bring the revised plan before the board in December, potentially December 9, 10 or 11, in Newport Beach. If it isn’t scheduled then, January may be the next opportunity. Most public testimony is expected to take place via Zoom.
We won’t know whether the revised plan addresses our concerns until the documents are released—and review time may be short.
Depending on what emerges, legal action over potential Coastal Act or Public Trust Doctrine violations may need to be considered. For now, it’s too early to know whether there are grounds for a legal action. We hope the required changes will resolve these issues.
For now, please save the dates and be ready to speak up. A strong public turnout at the Coastal Commission’s meeting, even on Zoom, could make a difference in ensuring that San Diego Bay’s future is planned transparently, appropriately and in the public interest.
We’re watching for the official meeting announcement and will share updates as soon as they’re available. To keep tabs on Port issues, sign up for updates. Email us at EmbarcaderoCoalition@gmail.com to get on our list. SDSun
Janet Rogers is a downtown San Diego resident, a civic watchdog and co-chair of the Embarcadero Coalition, Safe Walkways, and the Train Coalition at Santa Fe Depot. This is her first in a series of “The Public Interest” columns.
