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January 16, 2024
ITEM TITLE
Easement: Grant an Easement to the San Diego Unified Port District for Bicycle, Public Access, and Pedestrian Purposes to Facilitate the Development of the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade
Report Number: 23-0302
Location: A vacant parcel west of Marina Parkway and south of the western terminus of Lagoon Drive Department: Economic Development
G.C. § 84308: No
Environmental Notice: The Project was adequately covered in a previously certified Final Environmental Impact Report UPD#83356-EIR-658; SCH NO. 2005081077 for the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan.
Recommended Action
Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista adopt a resolution granting an exclusive easement to the San Diego Unified Port District for bicycle, public access, and pedestrian purposes to facilitate the development of the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade project.
SUMMARY
As part of implementing the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan (CVBMP) and in preparation for the 2025 opening of the Gaylord Pacific, the City of Chula Vista has partnered with the San Diego Unified Port District (Port) to deliver public-serving amenities such as the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade, Sweetwater Park and Harbor Park. In 2018, the Port entered into a grant agreement with the State of California Natural Resources Agency for Urban Greening Grant funding for the implementation of the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade project. The project includes the construction of a three- quarter mile Class 1 bike path and pedestrian promenade on portions of unused real property belonging to the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista (Agency). In order to ensure timely delivery of the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade, the Agency is being requested to grant an exclusive easement across its property for a period of sixty-six (66) years to allow for the Port’s development of the project.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project was adequately covered in a previously certified Final Environmental Impact Report UPD#83356-EIR-658; SCH NO. 2005081077 for the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan. Thus, no additional environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable
DISCUSSION
The City of Chula Vista and the Port have been working jointly for years on implementation of the CVBMP, which was unanimously approved by the California Coastal Commission in 2012. Th e plan encompasses more than 535 acres and implementation rapidly progressed . Construction of the Gaylord Pacific is underway with an anticipated opening date in mid-2025. Together, the City and Port have been working on various projects to improve multimodal public access to the Chula Vista Bayfront. In preparation for the 2025 opening of the Gaylord Pacific, the City of Chula Vista has partnered with the Port to deliver public -serving amenities such as the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade, Sweetwater Park and Harbor Park.
In 2018, the Port entered into a grant agreement with the State of California Natural Resources Agency for Urban Greening Grant funding for the implementation of the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade project. A total of $4.8 million was awarded to the Port for the project. The promenade project includes the construction of a three-quarter mile Class 1 bike path and pedestrian promenade on portions of real property belonging to the Agency. In order to ensure timely delivery of the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade, the Agency is being requested to grant an easement across its property for a period of sixty-six (66) years to allow for the Port’s development of the project. All costs and expenses to construct and maintain the project on the easement area will be the sole responsibility of the Port.
The Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade, once completed, will provide much needed public access to the Chula Vista Bayfront and will further the City’s vision for the Bayfront.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the Agency members and has found no property holdings within 1,000 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. Consequently, this item does not present a disqualifying real property -related financial conflict of interest under California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(7) or (8), for purposes of the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any Agency member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
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CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current year fiscal impact associated with the granting of an easement for the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact associated with the granting of an easement for the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade . All costs and expenses to construct and maintain the project on the easement area will be the sole responsibility of the Port.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Easement to the San Diego Unified Port District for the Sweetwater Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Promenade Project (Easement for Public Access Purposes) Staff Contact: Kevin Pointer, Principal Economic Development Specialist Tiffany Allen, Assistant City Manager