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CCDC News: Settlement Agreement Approved Regarding Downtown Community Plan

Date:   May 18, 2007

Contact: Derek Danziger, CCDC 

              619-533-7103 

              or

                 Duncan McFetridge, Save Our Forests and Ranchlands  

                 619-445-9638          

SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL APPROVES AGREEMENT TO SETTLE LITIGATION CHALLENGING CITY’S DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY PLAN

San Diego, CA—The San Diego City Council and Redevelopment Agency approved an Agreement on April 10 that became effective on May 15, between the group Save Our Forests and Ranchlands (SOFAR) and the City of San Diego, Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC), the San Diego Redevelopment Agency and the San Diego City Council settling the ongoing litigation concerning the City’s Downtown Community Plan (DCP). SOFAR’s lawsuit challenged the approval of the DCP, claiming the environmental analysis for the Plan adopted last year failed to consider an adequate range of alternatives to the DCP and failed to adequately analyze transportation and traffic impacts.

“The Agreement is a successful outcome for both sides,” said CCDC President Nancy Graham. “SOFAR will get its transit alternative analyzed and presented to the City Council for consideration and possible approval, and the City’s Plan remains intact and reliable for landowners and developers.” 

Under the Agreement, in exchange for SOFAR dismissing its action, CCDC will initiate a study analyzing SOFAR’s Proposed Transit-Oriented Alternative to the DCP (Study). The purpose of the Study is to identify opportunities: (a) to more efficiently manage downtown San Diego’s transportation system, (b) to investigate funding options for specific transit improvements, and (c) to reduce significant transportation and parking impacts of the DCP.   SOFAR’s Transit Oriented Alternative recognizes that a robust downtown transit system is critical to a successful regional transit network.  In addition, the Agreement obligates CCDC to pay SOFAR’s attorneys’ fees.

SOFAR’s president, Duncan McFetridge explains the importance of the Study for downtown San Diego,"In connection with regional transit initiatives by SANDAG and MTS, this historic settlement gives downtown San Diego a real opportunity to see how a transit-based community could benefit everyone: residents, workers, students, business, the elderly, and the young, and lead us towards a more sustainable future."

·  As part of the Study, CCDC would consider the various components of SOFAR’s Transit-Oriented Alternative relating to public transit, parking, transportation system management/pedestrians and bicycles and phased development.  The overarching goal of these components is to reduce the reliance on the automobile and increase transit use downtown.

CCDC would take the lead in causing the Study to be prepared, including overseeing the selection of consultants, with input from SOFAR. An EIR will also be prepared to analyze the environmental effects that would result from the implementation of some or all of the transit alternative’s elements.

The City Council would not be required under the Agreement to adopt the Proposed Transit-Oriented Alternative or rescind the approved DCP. The City Council would retain the authority to approve, modify or reject the Transit-Oriented Alternative and/or the conclusions of the Final EIR as it sees fit. The City and CCDC would take further action, as appropriate, pursuant to the final decision of the City Council.

About Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC)
CCDC is the public, nonprofit corporation created by the City of San Diego in 1975 to staff, plan and implement downtown's redevelopment on behalf of the City's Redevelopment Agency. CCDC offices are located at Wells Fargo Plaza, 401 B Street, Suite 400, in downtown San Diego.

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