The Port of San Diego received seven different ideas for how to develop Pond 20 during a Letters of Interest that took place this summer, said the Port's website devoted to the 95-acre site east of Imperial Beach.
The majority of proposed ideas would incorporate some form of habitat restoration in order to establish a mitigation bank. Mitigation credits are sold to developers to offset the environmental impact of their projects.
According to Weston Solutions, Inc. and McCollum Associates, "Based on current market knowledge, we believe the market rate for these credits in the region to be in excess of $200,000 per acre."
The Mitigation Stakeholder Team proposal includes letters of support from MST members WiLDCOAST, the Environmental Health Coalition, Hornblower Cruises and Events, BAE Systems and the San Diego Port Tenants Association, Sunroad Enterprises and Southwest Wetland Interpretive Association.
Any proposal chosen must meet Tidelands Trust which requires usage related to water or maritime activity and open to public use.
Among other proposed ideas:
- Radcor wants to use part of the land to build the Pacific Coast Historical Dinner Show which would incorporate a water and land dinner show which incorporates the region's culture and history. A wave machine would allow surfing during the show. An IMAX theatre would cover the sky of a 1,200-seat arena. Shops like live shaping by known surfboard shapers and all-you-can-eat street tacos. A velodrome would be built for bicycle racing nearby.
- San Diego Gaelic Athletic Association wants to build a clubhouse and playing fields for Irish national sports of gaelic football and hurling. Fields may also be used for rugby, soccer and other sports.
- Charles Company's plan recommends the extension of the Bayshore Bikeway around Pond 20 to Otay Valley Regional Park. Plan also recommends the relocation of motor homes east of Pond 20 and the construction of a bike and coffee shop. The majority of the land would be used as a mitigation bank.
- AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc. proposes a project that is one-third recreation and education and two-thirds mitigation bank. A gateway pavilion would be constructed on Palm Avenue to attract visitors. There would also be a shaded area for bird watching, elevated nature walk and native plant garden.
Port staff will make a formal recommendation to Port commissioners by the end of the year on which specific project should be considered.
Proposed projects are currently being reviewed with the cities of Imperial Beach and San Diego, said Michelle White with the Port of San Diego.
A second round of public outreach to Imperial Beach-Otay Mesa residents will likely take place in the end of October before recommendations are made, but have not yet been scheduled, White said.
Click here to hear opinions voiced by Imperial Beach-Otay Mesa residents at one of the first public comment meetings.
