GREATER GOLDEN HILL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES
February 8, 2012
Meeting Agenda is found in Attachment 1 at the end of these minutes.
Meeting was held at Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse – Golf Course Drive.
Chair Pat Shields called the meeting to order at 6:34 pm. Agenda had been posted in accordance with Brown Act. A quorum of members was present.
Members present: Ruchell Alvarez, Richard Baldwin, Cheryl Brierton, Susan Bugbee. Maureen Burke, Carole Caffey, John Kroll, Pat Shields, David Skillman, Marie Skillman, David Strickland, David Swarens, Angela Vasconcellos, Jessica Wolf. Members absent: Richard Santini, Matt Thomas
Addition/deletions to Agenda - Brierton asked to speak about the Urban Agriculture Amendment during Public Comment.
Approval of Minutes – Minutes of 1/11/12 meeting were approved (motion Brierton, second Caffey) 13 in favor, Strickland abstained.
Treasurer’s Report: – Shields presented a bill for $24.00 for making copies.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS.
Membership and Elections. Vasconcellos introduced two candidates for the Committee election next month. Octavio Gonzalez was raised in GGH, has moved back and wants to get involved. Janice Davis has lived in GGH for some time and served on the committee in prior years. Jinna Albright, who is also running, was not present. Current members not running for re-election are Caffey (termed out), Wolf and Bugbee.
GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS.
76th Assembly District, City Council District 3 & 8,Mayors office – not present.
53rd Congressional District – Katherine Fortner: Distributed copies of Davis Dispatch. Asked for signups for telephone town hall. Highlighted: Payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits.
Caffey said Einstein school is doing a street sweep around the school and wanted to paint driveway curb cuts – she wondered if they need permission and what color paint is allowed. Turgeon will look into. Swarens said residents should be contacted; D Skillman said parking in driveways is a problem on Elm Street, too.
Community Police Officer Louis Cologne. Within the past 14 days, there were 3 burglaries, 1 car prowl, several auto thefts (majority Honda Civics) no assaults or robberies.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
Cheryl Brierton, re: Urban Agriculture Amendment. Land-Use subcommittee was divided on the issue of “neighborhood chickens” and it was never formally discussed at the full committee. Brierton and 32nd St. Canyon group made formal comments. Amendment was introduced to City Council on 1/31/12 with no noticing to her or others. Letters attached were note inclusive. 2nd reading is 2/14/12. Those wishing to comment should appear at City Council 2/14 or comment on website. Brierton does not like the fact that our input is being disregarded. She said Code Compliance considers noise from chickens a low priority.
Kroll agreed that this was a disregard of our input. Alvarez said the item had been discussed at a CPC meeting and CPC turned it down; therefore she did not bring up for discussion at full GGHPC. Baldwin said he thinks chickens and goats should be allowed, just as dogs and cats are. D Skillman said the amendment requires goats in pairs for better behavior, and that he did not think farm families had found raising chickens to be unhealthy. Swarens agreed that our input was ignored and the process was poor. Shields asked Alvarez to forward Brierton’s email on the subject to the CPC chair.
Tershia d’Elgin, in favor of trees. Carole Caffey read a statement from d’Elgin (See Attachment 2) 2 trees were removed in front of Apple Dental on 2/3/12. Sidewalk Group 7 is working on trees throughout the city. Swarens asked who hired the workers – City of San Diego. Shields wants GGHPC to talk more about trees at a future meeting.
CHAIR’S REPORT. Shields attended the CPC meeting. Community Planning Groups are under stress from the political establishment and developers. GGH is in the time warp, along with Uptown. We need to be aware and be careful to act in accordance with the Brown Act at all times.
Kroll asked how Shields comments would get to the Mayor’s ears. Planning Committees exist due to Council Policy; we need to talk to our council representatives. D. Skillman said an attempt had been made to abolish Community Planning Groups at the County level.
VICE CHAIR – no report
INFORMATION ITEMS:
WATER GROUP JOB 959 UPDATE – Project Manager Lotous Lenguyen distributed maps showing water mains that have reached the end of their service life and will be replaced in 2013 and 2014. Locations: 25th St. from E to G, 27th St. from A to B, Ash St. from 28th to Fern, B St. from 22nd to 27th, and F St. from 24th to 25th.
Vasconcellos asked if they would be working around the school calendar for the Ash St. section – they will. Burke asked if they were aware of the 25th St Renaissance project – they are. Swarens suggested making school impact issues part of the contract to minimize traffic impacts. D Skillman asked if open trenches would be covered with plates to minimize traffic impacts – they will.
FAA NOISE MITIGATION UPDATE. Caffey had nothing new to report – variance request on the West Terminal update is still in process.
CONSENT AGENDA – none
ACTION ITEM:
PLAZA DE PANAMA EIR DISCUSSION.
Strickland, GGHPC representative on the Balboa Park Committee, had prepared a summary of alternatives reviewed in the Draft EIR, which was released on 1/26/12. See Attachment 3.
Kevin Johnson and Rob Fitch, consultants on Dr. Jacob’s proposal, were present. Shields opened the discussion with a reminder that GGHPC voted down the “Centennial Bridge” concept earlier. EIR 45 day comment period ends 3/8/12, our next meeting date, unless the period is extended. This creates a timing issue for approving comments by the deadline.
Strickland asked if members had read the materials and were interested in commenting. Strickland said he represents GGHPC at the Balboa Park Committee and will vote there as directed by us. He noted that 13 alternatives were considered in the EIR; 8 others were not.
Rob Fitch of Rick Engineering spoke. He said 60-day review period is expected but not guaranteed. The Final EIR is due 5/1/12, and will then be sent to Park & Recreation Committee, Historical Review Board, and City Council for approval. Development Services Department will solicit the opinion of GGHPC when they review, and suggested we might defer our recommendations until the Final EIR comes out.
Shields wanted GGHPC to focus on elements that we do not approve of. She suggested we discuss all but Alternatives 1 & 2, which we already voted on. Shields noted that the meeting was being recorded, and wondered if the topic was discussed in subcommittee, would it still be recorded. Turgeon said Brown Act regulations allow recording of all full or subcommittee meetings.
Swarens made a motion, seconded by Caffey “that Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee officially request a 15-day extension of the public comment period on the Plaza de Panama EIR”. All (14) voted in favor. The secretary will send the request.
Strickland offered 3 options on how to approach this material in our 1-hour meeting. (1) Go over each alternative and discuss their efficacy, comment on each one, like or dislike. Vote on each one as a full committee after discussion. (2) Not go over the alternatives and leave comments on EIR to each of the committee members. (3) Set up a subcommittee of those interested and discuss the project EIR, make a suggestion to the full committee for consideration and a vote at next month’s meeting.
Members commented: Kroll said this project is so important that a phased approach is the only way to go. Swarens favors making the Cabrillo Bridge programmable. Brierton asked if Fitch could give us an overview. Shields liked Swarens idea. Burke asked which alternative SOHO favors [Alt 4(b) iii] Kathryn Willetts wants clarification on location of roads. D Skillman said we should remember that this is in preparation for the park centennial; opening the public plaza is key idea.
Members voted on the 3 approaches: #1-12 votes, #2- 0 votes, #3-2 votes.
Rob Fitch was asked to describe the project and the alternatives. He said Dr. Jacob’s project includes 6 parts:
1. Plaza de Panama free of vehicle traffic and parking 2. El Prado and Plaza de California returned to promenade use. 3. Centennial Bridge and Road. 4. Alcazar Parking Lot and Walkway used for accessible parking. 5. Mall and Plan American Promenade reclaimed for pedestrians 6. Organ Pavilion parking structure, rooftop park, tram
Fitch said the EIR analyzed 13 proposed alternatives to Dr. Jacobs project. These can be grouped into 3 major categories, and he described the major negative and positive points of each.
(1) Building the Centennial Bridge. Negative: historic structure issues Positive: reduces 20 crosswalks to 6 and adds 200+ parking spaces and several acres of parkland.
(2) Closing the Cabrillo Bridge. Negative: significant unmitigable traffic impacts exterior to the park. Positive: no bridge, restores more parkland, reduces pedestrian conflicts, gain in amount of parkland
(3) Allowing some traffic to continue through PDP. Negative: significant unmitigable pedestrian issues. Positive: no bridge, 0-6 acres more parkland, net parking gain in some versions
Brierton asked what the difference in impacts were if the bridge were not built. Fitch said the impacts would be outside the park. Swarens said anyone driving through the Park might not be parking in the structure, and funneling this traffic might not be good. Willetts said every current “Map Quest” search routes traffic into the park from Park Blvd, making Cabrillo Bridge traffic unnecessary. Vasconcellos asked if “thru traffic” was part to the exterior impact. Fitch said it was, but makes up a small % - SANDAG and City models were used in traffic study.
Bugbee noted that the East end of the Park was once open and when it was closed to put in the fountain by the Fleet Science Center, people adjusted. She said USD has closed the center of their campus to traffic and it works well. Kroll asked if any of the alternatives change parking in the Palisades area. Fitch said they do not. Eric asked if a cost estimate had been made for mitigating the exterior traffic issue. Fitch said that was not part of the EIR. D Skillman said he understood that the core idea was to clear the Plaza de Panama of cars. Public education would let people know that parking is not available there.
GGHPC was polled about voting on a recommendation at this meeting. Those not ready to vote: Baldwin, Burke, Alvarez, Shields, Wolf, and Vasconcellos. Additional comments: Kroll – phased approach should be taken. Brierton – no bridge, build on West side. Caffey – not ready to vote, favors trams, etc with no parking in the park. D Skillman – research needed, don’t give up our vote. Strickland – no decision tonight, hopes comment period is extended. Bugbee- favors parking outside the park. Swarens – most vehicles should be outside the park. Bridge should be off the table. M Skillman – no vote tonight, is concerned about introduction of paid parking.
No official recommendations were made. Members were urged to get together among themselves (being observant of Brown Act restrictions) and put out ideas for discussion at the next meeting. Proposed motions could be put into the agenda.
Fitch noted that there is discussion of paid vs. free parking structure in the EIR. Swarens said the number of valet spaces vs. regular paid spaces needs to be reviewed.
D Skillman thanked Strickland for his work getting the summary information to the committee. Strickland thanked Fitch and Rick Engineering for their help.
ACTION ITEM – Project#265627. This is a Process I building permit, for garage construction at Baldwin’s residence. This is a ministerial permit, for which GGHPC must receive the plans but it needs no action. Baldwin recused himself from accepting the plans at Land Use Subcommittee, which he chairs. Shields accepted the plans on behalf of GGHPC. No further action is required.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:
LAND USE: Baldwin said some older permits are coming back for extensions. We can make recommendations but extensions are routine. Any major changes should be taken into account. An extension for the 16-unit project at 30th & Broadway will be on the agenda at Land Use subcommittee on 2/29/12.
Swarens asked that more detail about projects to be discussed at GGHPC be included on the agenda.
COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE: Turgeon announced that the next CPUAC meeting would be held 3/7/12 at 6:30 at 1504 30th Street. Agenda will be posted in advance. Turgeon said the Land Use and Housing committee of the City Council wants to discuss the schedule for the 3 Community Plan Updates in the Balboa Park cluster, he will notify us when the meeting will be held.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:36 pm. Meeting was reconvened at 8:37 pm.
Membership and Elections. Vasconcellos said there are 8 vacancies and 8 people running. We will have a balloted election at the March meeting.
Shields said she would like to change the by-laws so that the Committee had 15 members instead of 16, but will bring this up when it is more convenient.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
Marie Skillman.
Secretary
ATTACHMENT 1. AGENDA
GREATER GOLDEN HILL PLANNING COMMITTEE
February 8, 2012
6:30 PM
Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse, 2600 Golf Course Drive
www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/cpg
Agenda
Call to Order **6:30
Additions and/or Deletions to Agenda
Approval of Minutes
Governmental Reports **6:35
Community Police Officer – Suzy de la Pena {619.744.9514 or sdelapena@pd.sandiego.gov}
53rd Congressional District – Katherine Fortner {619.280.5353 or katherine.fortner@mail.house.gov}
76th Assembly District – Lindsey Masukawa {619.645.3090 or lindsey.masukawa@asm.ca.gov}
Council District 3 – Courtney Thomson {619.236.6633 or cthomson@sandiego.gov}
Council District 8 – Melina Meza {619.236.6688 or melinam@sandiego.gov}
City Planner – Bernard Turgeon {619.533.6575 or bturgeon@sandiego.gov}
Non Agenda Public Comment **6:50
Chair Report, Vice Chair Report **7:00
Information Items **7:05
Water Group Job 959 Up-date ~ R. Pond Public Information Officer
FAA Noise Mitigation Up-date ~ Carole Caffey
Community Plan Update ~ Next CPUAC Meeting, On March 7, 2012 at 1504 30th Street, 6:30 p.m.
Balboa Park & Transportation – David Strickland
Airport Noise & Treasurers Report – Carole Caffey
Historic* – Susan Bugbee {bugbee@sandiego.edu}
Land-Use* – Richard Baldwin {kimorb_1999@yahoo.com}
Consent Agenda **7:25
Action Items **7:30
>Project 265627 Process 1 Building Permit, Remodel Existing Garage
>Plaza de Panama EIR discussion, comment and take action on the propose project elements and the EIR Alternatives. Please review the project prior to the meeting. http://www.balboapark.org/plaza-de-panama/project
Adjournment **8:30
*If you are interested in attending the Historic or Land Use meeting please email the appropriate committee to confirm meeting and agenda.
**All times are estimated – Action Items may also be taken before Information Items.
The City of San Diego distributes agendas via email and can also provide agendas in alternative formats as well as a sign language or oral interpreter for the meeting with advance notice. To request these services, please contact the City at 619.236.6479 or sdplanninggroups@sandiego.gov
ATTACHMENT 2. STATEMENT FROM TERSHIA D’ELGIN
Trees
Urban forest staffer does not exist on staff at streets division
Meaning, there is no pro-tree voice as a member of the group of people in charge of sidewalks
When trees are identified as the cause of damaging sidewalks,
The pro tree option is to trim back roots and broaden the parkways
Replanting is difficult because of the maintenance required to establish their growth.
How are these two trees going to be replaced?
How/who will maintain them to maturity?
Please explain cost benefit of the replacement vs. accommodating existing growth?
Aesthetics, property values, traffic calming/slowing, air quality, shade, carbon dioxide, walk ability - Eco-system services, all included development-related formulas when determining value.
The group claiming responsibility for this project is sidewalk group #7. Who is this? They have a list of trees city-wide. The long range concern is fern street corridor street trees. What is their fate according to sidewalk group #7?
ATTACHMENT 3. Plaza de Panama Proposed Project Elements EIR Alternatives
Summary prepared by David Strickland.
Balboa Park Plaza de Panama: Balboa Park Master Plan Amendment; Central Mesa Precise Plan Amendment and a Site Development Permit to rehabilitate the Plaza de Panama consistent with the original vision of a ceremonial plaza and gathering space by eliminating
vehicle traffic from Plaza de California, El Prado, Plaza de Panama, and the Mall.
The project components include:
1. Plaza de Panama. Eliminate automobile traffic from the Plaza de Panama
and adjacent promenades and remove parking from the Plaza.
2. El Prado and Plaza de California. Allow for pedestrian use of El Prado
and Plaza de California by rerouting traffic to a bypass road and bridge.
3. Centennial Bridge and Road. Construction of a new two-way
bridge/road starting at the east end of the Cabrillo Bridge and continuing
through the eucalyptus grove around the southwest corner of the
Museum of Man.
4. Alcazar Parking Lot and Walkway. Redesign the Alcazar parking lot to
provide additional accessible parking as well as passenger drop-off,
museum loading, and valet.
5. The Mall and Pan American Promenade. Reclaim both the Mall and Pan
American Road for pedestrian only access by rerouting vehicle traffic
west of Pan American Road
6. Organ Pavilion Parking Structure, Roof-top Park, Tram and Arizona
Street Landfill. Construct a new parking structure with a roof-top park
and garden at the location of an existing Organ Pavilion surface parking
lot. The new multi-level underground structure would consist of
798 parking spaces on three levels and is 265,242 square feet. The new
rooftop park would be 2.2 acres. A tram shuttle would link parking in
the new structure with the Plaza de Panama. Excess soils from
excavation of the parking structure would be exported to the nearby
Arizona Street Landfill.
Plaza de Panama EIR Alternatives
ALTERNATIVES
No Project (No Development/Existing Conditions) Alternative (Alt 1)
The No Project (No Development/Existing Condition) Alternative would maintain Balboa Park
and the existing patterns of vehicle and pedestrian access to the Park in their current conditions.
No Project/Central Mesa Precise Plan Alternative (Alt 2)
Consistent with the adopted Central Mesa Precise Plan (CMPP), the CMPP Alternative would provide one-way eastbound vehicle access from the West Mesa during tram service hours, and two-way vehicular traffic during non-tram service hours. Traffic would be routed to the southwest corner of the Plaza de Panama. Only passenger drop-off would be allowed at the Plaza, and landscape and hardscape improvements would be implemented as outlined in the CMPP.
Under the CMPP Alternative, the circulation plan would route one-way traffic to the Alcazar
parking lot via access drives from the Mall. The Alcazar parking lot would be regraded, similar
to the project, and reconfigured in order to accommodate the majority of ADA (American with
Disabilities Act) parking in proximity to the Prado. The parking lot would include 56 accessible
spaces at a 2 percent slope. Both the intra-park tram and vehicles would use the west side of the Mall while bicycles and pedestrian traffic would flow on the east side. An underground parking structure with a rooftop park would be constructed at the location of the existing Organ Pavilion parking lot. This lot would hold 1,000 to 1,500 spaces, thus resulting in a net gain in parking, compared to the existing condition, of approximately 568 to 1,068 spaces. Export soil generated from the parking structure excavation would be disposed of at the Arizona Street Landfill, similar to the project. The portion of Pan American Road East, adjacent to the new parking structure, would be converted to a narrow pedestrian promenade. The Pan American Promenade would connect the rooftop park to the Organ Pavilion.
PEDESTRIANIZE CABRILLO BRIDGE ALTERNATIVES
This EIR addresses four alternatives that focus specifically on prohibiting vehicles on the
Cabrillo Bridge, El Prado, the Plaza de California, the Plaza de Panama, and the Mall. The four
alternatives in this category include the No New Parking Structure Alternative, Organ Pavilion
Parking Structure Alternative, West Mesa Parking Structure Alternative, and Inspiration Point
Parking Structure Alternative. These alternatives do not include the Centennial Bridge
component of the project.
No New Parking Structure Alternative (Alt 3A)
The No New Parking Structure Alternative would close El Prado, the Cabrillo Bridge, the Plaza
de California, the Plaza de Panama and the Mall to vehicles. The ADA parking removed from
the Plaza de Panama would be accommodated in a regraded and reconfigured Alcazar parking
lot. All other existing parking lots would be retained. The El Prado, Plaza de California, Plaza de
Panama, and the Mall would be repaved for pedestrian use. The existing driveway connecting
Pan American Road and the Alcazar parking lot would be widened to accommodate two-way
traffic adjacent to the Mall.
Organ Pavilion Parking Structure Alternative (Alt 3B)
The Organ Pavilion Parking Structure Alternative would prohibit vehicle traffic along El Prado,
east of Balboa Drive and over the Cabrillo Bridge. There would be no public vehicular access to
the Park from the West Mesa, and areas reclaimed for pedestrian use would include the Cabrillo
Bridge, Plaza de California, El Prado, the Plaza de Panama, the Mall, and Pan American Road.
Park Boulevard, via Presidents Way, would provide vehicular access to the project area. A
subterranean parking structure/roof top park would be located at the site of the existing Organ
Pavilion parking lot, and excess export soil would be disposed of at the Arizona Street Landfill.
Central Mesa (Objective 3) by precluding vehicle access from the West Mesa. This alternative
also would provide fewer benefits than the project through resolving fewer pedestrian/vehicular
conflicts; and providing no improvements to access and circulation.
West Mesa Parking Structure Alternative (Alt 3C)
The West Mesa Parking Structure Alternative would prohibit vehicular traffic along El Prado,
east of Balboa Drive and over the Cabrillo Bridge. There would be no public vehicular access to
the Park from the West Mesa, and areas reclaimed for pedestrian use would include the Cabrillo
Bridge, Plaza de California, El Prado, the Plaza de Panama, and the Mall,. A new subterranean
paid parking structure would be located on the West Mesa. Excess soil from excavation of the
parking structure would be disposed of at the Arizona Street Landfill. The existing lawn bowling
greens would be replaced atop the parking structure. The Organ Pavilion parking lot would be
maintained in its current condition. Park visitors entering from the west would park in the new
parking structure and either walk across Cabrillo Bridge or take the new tram system. Vehicular
access to the project area from the east would be from the Park Boulevard/the Presidents Way
entrance.
Inspiration Point Parking Structure Alternative (Alt 3D)
The Inspiration Point Parking Structure Alternative would prohibit vehicle traffic along El Prado,
east of Balboa Drive and over the Cabrillo Bridge. There would be no public vehicular access to
the Park from the West Mesa, and areas reclaimed for pedestrian use would include the Cabrillo
Bridge, Plaza de California, El Prado, the Plaza de Panama, the Organ Pavilion parking lot, and
the Mall. Under this alternative, the existing Organ Pavilion parking lot would be converted to
parkland. A new above-ground parking structure, which would be free to the public, would be
located southeast of the intersection of Presidents Way and Park Boulevard, an area known as
Inspiration Point. Vehicular traffic would access the project area from the east via Presidents
Way and travel north to the Alcazar parking lot for ADA parking, valet services, or passenger
drop-off only. The Alcazar parking lot would be re-graded and reconfigured to accommodate
the ADA spaces lost from restoration of the Plaza de Panama.
OPEN CABRILLO BRIDGE ALTERNATIVES
This EIR addresses six alternatives which focus on continuing to allow vehicles on the Cabrillo
Bridge both with and without the Centennial Bridge. Two of the open Cabrillo Bridge
alternatives include the Centennial Bridge—Gold Gulch Parking Structure Alternative and the
No Paid Parking Alternative. Four of the open Cabrillo Bridge alternatives do not include the
Centennial Bridge—Tunnel Alternative, Stop Light (One-Way) Alternative, the Modified
Precise Plan without Parking Structure Alternative, and the Half-Plaza Alternative.
Gold Gulch Parking Structure Alternative (Alt 4Ai)
Development under the Gold Gulch Parking Structure Alternative would be similar to the project
in that it would: maintain vehicular traffic over the Cabrillo Bridge; construct the Centennial
Bridge, along with a new road, “Park Road”, that traverses the edge of Palm Canyon, similar to
Centennial Road, under the project; pedestrianize the Plaza de California, El Prado, the Plaza de Panama, the Mall and Pan American Road East and regrade the Alcazar parking lot to replace the loss of ADA parking, valet and passenger drop off operations from the Plaza de Panama.
This alternative would place a new parking structure within Gold Gulch, the canyon located east
of the existing Organ Pavilion parking lot. Construction of the parking structure and
improvements would require approximately 51,500 cy of export soil, which would be disposed at
the Arizona Street Landfill. The parking structure would be a five-level, structure, resulting in
the same net increase in parking spaces as the project. The Organ Pavilion parking lot would be
converted to parkland, and green space would be added behind the Organ Pavilion. The Gold
Gulch Parking Structure Alternative would substantially alter the existing circulation patterns
within the project area and vicinity. A new access road (“Park Road”) would be constructed
from the east between the World Beat Center and the Cultural de la Raza, connecting to Park
Boulevard at a new intersection. This road would connect to the top level of the parking structure and would include a bridge over the Tram Way. Road Z would also provide access to the parking structure via Presidents Way. Tram service to and from the Plaza de Panama would be provided.
No Paid Parking Alternative (Alt 4Aii)
This alternative would contain all of the same features as the project except that parking in the
Organ Pavilion parking structure would be free of charge in perpetuity.
All environmental impacts would be similar to the project, with one exception. The lack of
parking fees under this alternative would result in two significant but mitigable impacts to
internal Park circulation that would not occur with the project. This impact would occur at the
intersection of Centennial Road and Presidents Way, because the lack of a parking fee would
result in a greater concentration of Park visitors seeking to park at the Organ Pavilion structure.
Tunnel Alternative (Alt 4Bi)
The Tunnel Alternative would pedestrianize the entire Plaza de Panama and the eastern portion
of the Mall by undergrounding a section of the El Prado roadway. The roadway would go
underground approximately 150 feet east of the Plaza de California, and circulate below the
Plaza de Panama via a 275-foot-long tunnel that would outlet along the western half of the Mall.
Vehicles would then use the newly constructed Centennial Road to access a new underground
pay parking structure south of the Organ Pavilion. Export soil generated from the parking
structure excavation would be disposed of at the Arizona Street Landfill, similar to the project.
Like the project, the new parking structure would be covered with a rooftop park, and the Pan
American Promenade would connect the rooftop park to the Organ Pavilion and Mall. Also
similar to the project, the Alcazar parking lot would be regraded and reconfigured to
accommodate ADA parking, valet services and passenger drop-off. Special construction considerations would be necessitated by this alternative. The tunnel would
require an approximately 20-foot-deep underground structure, with 1:1 excavation slopes. Based on the location of the tunnel relative to the arcades, existing pedestrian and historic areas, vertical shoring of the excavated tunnel walls would be necessary in order to prevent impacts to these areas. A drill rig would be required to auger the holes for soldier piles. Potential utility (gas, water, sewer, and electric) relocation may also be required.
.
Stop Light (One-Way) Alternative (Alt 4Bii)
Development under the Stop Light (One-Way) Alternative would pedestrianize three-fourths of
the Plaza de Panama and the eastern half of the Mall in a plan similar to the Central Mesa Precise Plan Alternative, with one-way eastbound vehicle traffic routed through the southwest corner of the Plaza. Vehicles would continue on a one-way basis through the Plaza de Panama, following the road’s present alignment, toward the Organ Pavilion and past the Organ Pavilion parking lot. This alternative would include the installation of a traffic signal in the archway on the west side of the Plaza de California outside the Museum of Man. This alternative would not construct the Centennial Bridge, Centennial Road or the Organ Pavilion parking structure. The ADA parking spaces removed from the Plaza de Panama would be recovered through regrading and reconfiguring of the Alcazar parking lot, similar to the project.
Modified Precise Plan without Parking Structure Alternative (Alt 4Biii)
The Modified Precise Plan without Parking Structure Alternative would route two-way vehicular
traffic along El Prado to the southwest corner of the Plaza de Panama, adjacent to the Mingei
International Museum. Valet and passenger drop-offs and tram stop would be provided within
the Plaza. Most of the Plaza de Panama and the eastern half of the Mall would be pedestrianized with this alternative. To replace the parking removed from the Plaza de Panama, an equal number of new parking spaces would be created in existing parking lots behind Park institutions and along existing interior streets. The Organ Pavilion parking lot would remain in its existing condition. The ADA parking spaces removed from the Plaza de Panama would be recovered through minor regrading and restriping the Alcazar parking lot (along with the removal of two maintenance sheds at the western edge of the lot); and the creation of additional spaces within the Organ Pavilion parking lot, the areas behind the Museum of Photographic Arts and the Model Railroad Museum, adjacent the southern border of the San Diego Zoo and Old Globe
Way. The existing one-way access drives into the Alcazar parking lot would be retained.
Half-Plaza Alternative (Alt 4Biv)
With implementation of the Half-Plaza Alternative, two-way vehicular traffic would circulate
along El Prado. A one-way loop around the Mall and southern half of the Plaza de Panama
would be constructed and referred to as “El Cid Island.” The loop would consist of a landscaped
median/garden area with street trees lining both sides of the roadway. Drop-off and valet zones
would be located at the Mingei International Museum and House of Hospitality. The Half-Plaza
Alternative would remove parking from the Plaza de Panama and the Alcazar parking lot. The
Alcazar parking lot would be converted to green space and reclaimed as parkland; the northern
half of the Plaza de Panama and Pan American Road East would be reclaimed for pedestrian use. Parking removed from the Plaza de Panama and Alcazar parking lot would be offset in a new subterranean paid parking structure south of the Organ Pavilion. Export soil generated from the parking structure excavation would be disposed of at the Arizona Street Landfill, similar to the project. Also similar to the project, a rooftop park would be constructed on top of the structure. An at-grade access road would be placed along the structure’s northern and eastern perimeters, connecting to Pan American Road East north of the structure and to Presidents Way southeast of the structure. (No grade-separated pedestrian overpass is included in this alterative).
PHASED ALTERNATIVE (ALT 5)
Under the Phased Alternative, construction would proceed in four phases on an “as needed”
basis. Each subsequent phase would not occur, unless and until, there was a need due to
insufficient parking, traffic/pedestrian conflicts, or impacts on overall park use.
· Phase1: In Phase 1, the landscape and hardscape improvements identified for the project
(with the exception of the reflecting pools) would be implemented for most of Plaza and
the eastern portion of the Mall. Phase 1 would include the elimination of parking and
valet operations within Plaza de Panama, but would continue to allow through traffic
within the southwest corner. The Alcazar parking lot would be regraded and
reconfigured to accommodate ADA parking and valet services at this phase.
Based on the parking demand studies, elimination of parking and valet operations within the Plaza de Panama, indicate parking occupancies at/or over capacity (85%) in the core area. If
Park core area parking would exceed (85%), then Phase 2 would be initiated.
·
Phase 2: Phase 2 would add the parking structure at the Organ Pavilion parking lot and
rooftop park, accessed by a portion of the Centennial Road. Export soil generated from
the parking structure excavation would be disposed of at the Arizona Street Landfill,
similar to the project. The tram loop from the parking structure to Plaza de Panama
would be activated. Adding the Organ Pavilion structure would increase parking supply
within the core area, however, pedestrian/vehicular conflicts at the Plaza de Panama
would still remain. For Phase 2, if pedestrian/vehicular conflicts are not reduced by at
least 50%, then Phase 3 would be initiated.
·Phase 3: Phase 3 would close the Cabrillo Bridge to vehicular traffic and include the
pedestrianization and restoration of El Prado, the western portion of the Mall, and the
remainder of the Plaza de Panama, including the addition of the two shallow reflecting
pools. The remainder of Centennial Road also would be completed in this phase and
connect the Organ Pavilion parking structure to the Alcazar parking lot. Closing the
Cabrillo Bridge is anticipated to reroute Park-destined trips to the Park
Boulevard/Presidents Way intersection, as access to the project area would be limited to
this location. For Phase 3, if internal roadways and intersections are calculated to
operate poorly (LOS E and LOS F), then Phase 4 would be initiated.
Phase 4: Phase 4 would be the construction of the Centennial Bridge, as defined in the
project.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED
In addition to the 13 alternatives fully analyzed, the EIR also considered the following eight
alternatives. These alternatives were rejected for the reasons stated.
2004 Jones and Jones Land Use, Circulation and Parking Study Alternative
The 2004 Concept Plan, prepared by Jones & Jones and Civitas, is a comprehensive plan for
Balboa Park and recommends relocating parking to periphery locations. Three underground
parking structures are recommended: (1) at the Zoo Promenade, (2) near the existing Archery
Range below and just north of the Cabrillo Bridge, and (3) an employee parking structure located at the southern portion of Inspiration Point. This Plan would reclaim a total of 115 acres of parkland by rehabilitating several areas for public park use including: the Arizona Landfill; the
Archery Range; the Alcazar parking lot; Pan American Plaza; Plaza de Panama, and the Organ
Pavilion parking lot.
This alternative was not considered for further analysis for the following reasons:
·In its entirety, this Plan is much larger in scope than the project and would likely be
infeasible to implement from an economic standpoint.
Due to the substantially larger scope, this alternative also would result in greater impacts
to a number of resources, likely to include traffic, air quality, noise, greenhouse gases,
and cultural (archaeological) resources.
· This alterative would not meet several of the project objectives. By placing parking at
periphery locations, this alternative would not meet Objective 1 – “maintaining proximate
vehicular access to the Park’s institutions”. Objective 6, complete implementation by
2015, would be difficult to attain, due to the substantial scope of improvements included
under this alternative.
Increased Surface Parking on West Side Alternative
The Increased Surface Parking on West Side Alternative would close the Cabrillo Bridge to
vehicular traffic and remove parking from the Plaza de Panama. Vehicular access to the Central
Mesa portion of Balboa Park would only occur from the east, via Park Boulevard. Rather than
adding a new parking structure, this alternative would reconfigure both Sixth Avenue and Balboa Drive to accommodate additional on-street parking through realignment, roadway widening, and restriping for angled parking along both roadways.
This alternative was not considered for further analysis for the following reasons:
It is similar to another alternative with parking on the west side of the Park (3C West
Mesa Parking Structure Alternative) which is analyzed in detail.
Zoo Parking Alternative
The Zoo Parking Alternative is based on joint use of the parking structure component of the Park Boulevard Promenade project. An EIR for this project was certified (SCH #2001121107) and the project approved in 2003; however, no portion of the project has been constructed to date. Implementation of this alternative would close Cabrillo Bridge and El Prado to vehicular traffic and vehicular access to the Central Mesa would be solely from the east via Park Boulevard. As approved, a new subterranean parking structure would be located along Park Boulevard, just north of Zoo Place, south to the Natural History Museum. The existing asphalt parking lots near Spanish Village and Natural History Museum would be converted to a public promenade connecting the new Zoo entry to El Prado. Additional parking would also be provided in a new parking lot located to the south of the War Memorial Building and a 4.5-acre employee parking lot would be added within the existing Zoo leasehold.
Managed Cabrillo Bridge Closure Alternative
The Managed Cabrillo Bridge Closure Alternative includes the managed closure of Cabrillo
Bridge to vehicles at/during peak Park hours/days (i.e., 9:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.). Outside of peak
times, cars would be allowed to travel across the bridge, on El Prado, and through the southwest corner of Plaza de Panama to the Mall, consistent with the existing condition. Additionally, under this alternative, parking would be permanently removed from the Plaza de Panama, resulting in a net loss of 54 parking spaces. This alternative does not include any other
modifications to existing facilities, parking or circulation/transit.
Quince Street Access Alternative
The Quince Street Access Alternative would construct a new western access to Balboa Park from SR-163, which would require Quince Street and the associated bridge to be converted into a twoway road. The existing northbound SR-163 off ramp at Quince Street would be abandoned, and the existing overpass modified to create a two-way at grade road parallel to northbound SR-163. The new north/southbound road would cross under Cabrillo Bridge and connect to a parking structure, which would be constructed at the existing Organ Pavilion parking lot. The Quince Street access road under this alternative would serve as the new vehicular access to the Central Mesa from the west, allowing the Cabrillo Bridge to be closed to traffic and pedestrianized.
Old Globe Way Access Alternative
The Old Globe Way Parking Structure Alternative would be similar to the Quince Street
Alternative, discussed above. Under this alternative, the existing Quince Drive off-ramp from
north-bound SR-163 would be used to transform Quince Street and the existing bridge into a
two-way road. Instead of going under the Cabrillo Bridge, however, the roadway would climb
the canyon behind the Old Globe Theatre to a new parking structure. The “Old Globe Structure”
would be several levels high, with an entry from the Quince Street Bridge on the lower level to
the west and a top-level entry on the east attaching to Old Globe Way. The Quince Street access road under this alternative would serve as the new vehicular access to the Central Mesa from the west, allowing the Cabrillo Bridge to be closed to traffic and pedestrianized.
Green Entry/Periphery Parking Alternative
This specific alternative suggested in the public process includes several components. The
Cabrillo Bridge, the California Building (Museum of Man) archway into the Plaza de California,
and El Prado would become a “green entry” allowing only pedestrians, pedicabs, bicycles, and
other non-fossil fuel vehicles (and emergency vehicles) to enter. This would allow El Prado and
the Plaza de Panama to be reclaimed for primarily pedestrian-only use. The Mall and Pan
American Road would remain open to vehicular traffic. Most public parking would be eliminated from the heart of the Central Mesa. Two periphery parking structures would be constructed: one at Nate’s Point Dog Park with grass to support a rooftop dog park; and another at the existing Federal Building surface parking lot.
This alternative would include the widening of Presidents Way between Park Boulevard and Pan American Plaza to four lanes in order to accommodate additional traffic in this area, and would be accomplished through the elimination of existing parallel parking. The existing Palisades parking lot would then be reclaimed as a pedestrian plaza. Angled parking also would be provided along Balboa Drive from El Prado to Marston Point. Accessible parking would be
retained in limited designated areas in the Central Mesa. The Alcazar parking lot would be
retained for accessible and special permit parking only and the Organ Pavilion parking lot would
remain in its current condition. All valet service would be eliminated from the Park.
This alternative would include a one-dollar per day fee to be implemented for all parking spaces
in the Park using new ticket machines, similar to those being installed downtown.
Sixth Avenue Bridge Extension
The Sixth Avenue Bridge Extension alternative suggested in the public process includes several
components. The Sixth Avenue Bridge Extension Alternative includes a new one-way (westbound) bridge from near the Automotive Museum at the southern end of Pan American Plaza to Sixth Avenue over SR-163. The roadway could incorporate some of the existing roadway that leads to Sixth Avenue from Balboa Drive. The Cabrillo Bridge and El Prado would be converted to one-lane of east-bound travel, allowing the second lane to be available for pedestrian, tram, or other use. Under this alternative, El Prado, the Plaza de Panama, the Plaza de California, Mall, Pan American Road and the Organ Pavilion parking lot, would all remain open to vehicular use and/or parking. Additional parking would be located in several locations, including a two-three level parking structure at the existing Inspiration Point parking lot; angled parking along Balboa Drive and surface parking on Quince Drive. Accessible parking would be located directly in front of the Art Museum in the Plaza de Panama and all time-restricted spaces would be relocated to the Alcazar parking lot.
