The Unified Port of San Diego’s planned improvements for North Harbor Drive have been slowed by a recent decision by the California Coastal Commission. Other improvements for nearby Lane Field developments also face delays because of a weakened economy, according to port officials. Coastal commissioners voted 5-5 on port plans during an April meeting, effectively denying the first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan. The decision sends the Port District’s plans for sections of North Harbor Drive and Broadway back to square one, according to port officials. The project would have created improvements along North Harbor Drive from B Street to the Navy Pier that includes a waterfront esplanade, public gathering spaces and additional parking. Several detractors of the latest form of the project raised issue over a contiguous 2.5-acre oval park included in the original plans several years ago. Port planners later changed the vision for the park —essentially breaking it up in to smaller sections to make way for approved cruise-ship terminal developments. “The port is really rethinking the [project],” said port spokeswoman Marguerite Elicone. “That whole project had been in the works for 12 years, so it’s kind of [disappointing].” Elicone said it could take another two years before the port comes up with revamped plans for the area. Coastal Commissioner Esther Sanchez said she had concerns about the project during the April meeting. “I was concerned about the piecemeal changes to the master plan, especially how difficult it is to determine whether there will be sufficient parking, public access and true open-space public areas, not ones that will be privatized periodically,” Sanchez said. In addition to the recent setback, the port continues to look for money for another nearby project. The Lane Field redevelopment plan to bring two hotels to the former ballpark has hit a snag as planners continue to look for financing, according to Elicone. “That hotel project is having difficulty finding financing, but it’s hard for everybody right now,” Elicone said. “We were hoping that the project would have started before the [North Embarcadero Visionary Plan], but it hasn’t.” The Lane Field plans include nearly 800 guest rooms, ballrooms, a pier at Grape Street and North Harbor Drive with retail and dining space. The development would bring about 2,000 jobs to the area, along with $5 million to $7 million in tax revenue, according to port officials.