Draft EA - San Diego International Airport

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – PROPOSED RUNWAY 9 DISPLACED THRESHOLD
Center on Harbor Drive. 6
Additionally, the portion of the Little Italy District west of the railroad and trolley
tracks, also known as the North Embarcadero Area, has been promoted for redevelopment under the North
Embarcadero Visionary Plan (NEVP).
The North Embarcadero area encompasses the downtown waterfront area bounded by Laurel Street on the
north, Market Street on the south, San Diego Bay on the west, and the railroad and trolley tracks on the east.
The northern end of the North Embarcadero area borders the southern property boundary of SDIA at Laurel
Street. 7
Existing land uses in the North Embarcadero area include: industrial and warehousing in the northern
end; commercial, recreational, hotel, small-scale retail, and office uses in the central area; and the U.S. Navy
and residential uses at the southern end. 8
Existing land uses surrounding SDIA include: Airport-related industrial and commercial uses such as Solar
Turbines and car rental agencies, other commercial businesses, and the County of San Diego Administration
Center. There are also several public recreation facilities in this area, including viewing and fishing piers along
Harbor Drive, a waterfront promenade, and the Grape Street pier.
North Harbor Drive runs along the southern property line of SDIA. Along the south side of North Harbor
Drive are located the City of San Diego Metropolitan Sewer Pump Station #2, the U.S. Coast Guard Station, a
rental car return center, the Harbor Police Station, and the Spanish Landing Park. Further to the south is
Harbor Island, which includes hotels, restaurants, marinas, and Harbor Island Park. 9
Spanish Landing Park is an existing park located south of SDIA across North Harbor Drive. This park extends
along the north bank of the Harbor Island West Basin, occupying 11.2 acres of land, and includes a bicycle and
pedestrian path along the shore of San Diego Bay. The park is developed with picnic tables, restrooms,
parking, and extensive landscaping. Approximately one mile of public access to the shore is provided by this
park. The park has been designated as a California Historical Landmark as it was the site of anchorage for the
supply ships of the Portola-Serra expedition of 1769. 10
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Centre City Development Corporation, Downtown Neighborhoods, http://www.ccdc.com/resources/downtown-neighborhoods.html,
(accessed: December 20, 2011).
Unified Port of San Diego, North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, Overview and Background, http://www.portofsandiego.org/northembarcadero/1880-overview-and-background.html,
(accessed: December 20, 2011).
North Embarcadero Alliance, North Embarcadero Alliance Visionary Plan, 1998.
City of San Diego, CityWorks interactive mapping, http://citymaps.sandiego.gov/imf/imf.jsp?site=ciptpub, (accessed: December 20, 2011).
Unified Port of San Diego, Spanish Landing Park, http://www.portofsandiego.org/spanish-landing-park.html, (accessed: December 20,
2011).
Draft EA
Affected Environment
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