A public hearing on Tuesday, June 12 will be one of the last stages in the issuance of permits regarding environmental concerns for the proposed 51,000-square-foot cruise ship terminal at the Broadway Pier.
“The current operation (at the Broadway Pier) was not originally designed for what it is used for now,” said John Helmer, manager of land use planning for the Unified Port of San Diego, which oversees the project. “The public hearing is for the purpose of issuing a coastal development permit and to review any new environmental issues which may have arisen.”
According to Helmer, when the permits are secured the process can then begin moving towards the construction phases with appropriate bidding procedures.
Once this is done the project will be completed relatively quick, he said. Construction is slated to begin later this year with completion in the spring of 2008.
The improvements fall into two general areas of necessity and requirements. Helmer said both the cruise ship industry and Homeland Security have requested upgrades from the current situation whereby passengers go from the ships at the Broadway Pier to the B Street terminal for processing.
“The new terminal building will allow for customs and immigrations representatives to handle all their duties and responsibilities in an enclosed and protected environment right at the point when people get off and on the ships,” he explained.The resulting changes in this process will be similar to what has happened at airports and not being able to greet arriving passengers at the gates.
“When the cruise ships are in port it will be a tightly controlled and secured area. The public will not be able to simply walk out there to see family or friends who are ship passengers,” Helmer emphasized. “However, when there are no cruise ships in port, the general public is welcome to go out on the pier and enjoy the views.”
Some improvements are not directly tied into the physical structure of the new terminal and pier itself, Helmer explained.
“There will also be a new transportation area for buses and taxis which will be designed not to interfere with the regular traffic along Harbor Drive,” he said. “This area will also be able to handle the large delivery trucks, which often can create traffic backups.”
In addition to the Broadway Pier, plans also call for the B Street terminal to be rebuilt and renovated, all of which Helmer believes is going to create a better overall experience for everyone.
“The new terminal building will be designed and built to complement what already exists in terms of architecture and amenities,” he stated. “It is the first new building in quite some time for the area and it is designed to be as efficient as possible.”
Comments regarding the issuing of permits will be accepted until 5 p.m. on June 7.
The public hearing will begin at 9 a.m. on June 12 at the Port of San Diego Administration Offices, 3165 Pacific Highway.
Interested parties may call John Helmer directly at (619) 686-6468 or visit www.portofsandiego.org.