Peninsula planners in September were updated on a long-range management plan for Liberty Station “surplus” properties, and lent endorsement to 11 infrastructure projects to be considered in the city’s 2015 capital improvements project budget.
John Collum of Civic San Diego, a city-owned entrepreneurial partner for improving urban neighborhoods and building transit-oriented development, gave a presentation on the status of more than 50 property parcels left over from Naval Training Center’s (NTC’s) Reuse Plan — a document guiding the transition from the former NTC to civilian use.
Collum told the Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) these holdover parcels, which have not yet been rehabilitated or redeveloped, are awaiting improvements or development in accordance with the terms of a lease agreement with master developer McMillin NTC LLC.
“What’s happened is these successor agency-owned properties left over from (NTC) redevelopment are being put into a long-range property management plan to decide how those properties might be used in the future,” said Collum. He said Civic San Diego has been working since the beginning of the year to compile an inventory of such properties.
Collum distributed a handout with detailed information, as well as a color-coded map, showing the 54 surplus NTC properties still under the redevelopment agency’s control.
On Sept. 19, PCPB also rolled out a long “wish list” of potential projects to be included in the city of San Diego’s fiscal year 2015 capital improvements project budget.
The capital improvements program (CIP) is the city’s long-range plan for all individual capital improvement projects and funding sources.
CIP projects are unique construction projects that provide improvements or additions like land, buildings and infrastructure. CIP projects are designed to enhance the overall quality of life by improving police, fire and lifeguard stations, upgrading infrastructure like streets, drainage and flood-control facilities, as well as developing recreational amenities like libraries, park and recreation centers.
“We reached out though our Facebook page to get input and, as a result,we have 11 projects that were submitted by the community for consideration by this board,” said PCPB chair Julia Quinn. Quinn noted the types of improvements which tend to get funded these days with the city’s tight fiscal budget are “traffic and public-safety-type improvements.”
PCPB’s 11 proposed infrastructure improvement projects include Cabrillo Park’s north stair and asphalt path repairs, Plum Street Park development, a sidewalk for Famosa Bridge, bus Route 28 turnouts, a bikeway for Chatsworth Boulevard, Catalina Boulevard drainage improvements and hillside developments, stormwater management, lower parking lot improvements and demolition of upper rental properties for Sunset Cliffs Natural Park.
The PCPB voted 8-3-1 to forward the entire list of 11 infrastructure improvement projects to the city.
PCPB secretary Nicole Burgess said she abstained from voting on the CIP because she was “uncomfortable with some of the descriptions in the drainage issues and some technicalities.”
In other notable items from the PCPB, John Ly from District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer’s office told the group interim mayor Todd Gloria has adopted a stance that any and all medical marijuana dispensaries are “not allowed by any land-use designation,” and are therefore operating illegally and subject to law enforcement.
• Burgess clued her colleagues in on recent developments with pedestrian and cycling improvements. She noted Nimitz Boulevard has been designated “a priority for safe routes to school traffic calming.” She added the recently held Ciclosdias event appropriating 30th Street for part of a weekend day only for non-vehicular users was a big success in promoting bicycling and alternative modes of travel. Burgess said a new bike-sharing program recently approved by the City Council will make at least 1,800 bicycles available for self-service use citywide. The program is anticipated to launch early next year.