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San Diego, CA
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Updates
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Plaza de Panama Project Public Hearing Dates
Throughout the next few months, votes will be taken on the Plaza de Panama Project at several City meetings. A strong showing of public support will help us gain a supportive vote on the project, so please join us at the following meetings to speak in support:
· May 3, 6 pm:Balboa Park Committee at Balboa Park Club (2144 Pan American Road West)
· May 17, 2 pm: Park & Recreation Board at 202 C Street in the 12th Floor Committee Room
· May 18, 1 pm: Historical Resources Board at 202 C Street in the 12th Floor Committee Room
· June 7, 9 am: Planning Commission at 202 C Street in the 12th Floor Council Chambers
· July 9, 2 pm: City Council at 202 C Street in the 12th Floor Council Chambers
Walking Tour Scheduled for Saturday, May 19
Our next walking tour will take place on Saturday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m. The tour provides a great opportunity to learn about the project firsthand and speak with project outreach team members about new updates. The tour will begin in the Plaza de California (in front of the Museum of Man) and will last around 90 minutes. Please note that in the event of rain, the tour will be cancelled.
Plaza de Panama Participates on EarthFair
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at Balboa Park’s EarthFair, the world’s largest annual environmental fair and Earth Day celebration. The project outreach team had a nice time sharing project information and was thrilled to receive support from several of the event attendees.
Bilingual March Walking Tour
We are excited to announce our March walking tour will be translated into Spanish for the Hispanic community. The tour will take place on Saturday, March 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
During the tour, a member of the Plaza de Panama design team and a translator will provide detailed information on the project’s proposed plans and design renderings. The tour will start at the Plaza de California (in front of the Museum of Man) and end at the Organ Pavilion parking lot. We recommend wearing comfortable, flat shoes to tour the park.
Draft EIR Update
The Project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was released in January 2012 for a 60-day public comment period. The Draft EIR, an important milestone in the project approval process, provides a comprehensive review of potential environmental impacts of the proposed project, as well as 13 alternatives to the proposed project. The 13 Project alternatives included in the study were largely generated from public input. The level of detailed information and analysis included in the document is believed to be unprecedented in an EIR in the City of San Diego.
We strongly encourage the public and those passionate about the future of Balboa Park to review and provide written comments on the document. The deadline for submitting comments is 5:00 pm on March 22, 2012. The document is available online on the City’s website and on our website’s Information & Documents page. Comments may also be submitted in writing to the City via U.S. mail and email to:
E. Shearer-Nguyen, Environmental Planner
City of San Diego Development Services Center
1222 First Avenue, MS 501
San Diego, CA 92101
DSDEAS@sandiego.gov
The Final EIR will include public comments submitted to the City and responses to these comments. An update on the Final EIR release date will be posted in the near future.
New Project Supporters
Over the past few months, the project team has done a considerable amount of public outreach, participating in several meetings and workshops with community and business organizations. This outreach has led to numerous endorsements from key organizations with a vested interest in Balboa Park. We are excited to share the following list of organizations/individuals that have recently expressed their support:
- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom
- Uptown Planners
- Gaslamp Quarter Association
- Centre City Advisory Committee
- Spreckels Organ Society
- Plaza de Panama Project Team at 2011 MCAS Miramar Air Show
The Plaza de Panama project team had a wonderful time exhibiting at the MCAS Miramar Air Show September 30 to October 2. The team hosted a booth inside the Air Show expo, displaying new project banners and a presentation with project design renderings. Over the three day period, the team interacted with hundreds of attendees and received great feedback and comments on the project.
- Oct. 15 Walking Tour
Our second walking tour kicks off tomorrow, October 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The tour will start at the Plaza de California (in front of the Museum of Man) and end at the Organ Pavilion parking lot. These guided tours, held the third Saturday of every month, are led by members of the design team and provide the ideal opportunity for the public to learn more about the project. We hope to see you there!
- Plaza de Panama Design Team Continuing to Make Great Headway
The design team is continuing to work on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project. This review process will ensure a thorough analysis of the project as well as evaluates alternatives plan suggested by the public. The report is anticipated to be released for public review in January 2012.
- Plaza de Panama Project Team Weekend Recap
The Plaza de Panama project team had a wonderful time interacting with the San Diego community this past weekend. On Saturday morning, the team kicked off its first public walking tour in Balboa Park which attracted more than 25 individuals. The event provided the perfect opportunity for the public to learn more about the project in a fun and engaging manner. Also on Saturday, the team hosted a booth at Voice of San Diego’s and NBC 7 San Diego’s first-ever Politifest. The festival brought out more than 1,000 attendees, with event-goers providing the team with great feedback and comments on the project.
- Upcoming Community Events
If you missed the walking tour this past weekend and are interested in learning more about the project and its benefits to Balboa Park, the team will be facilitating tours the third Saturday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (next tour is Saturday, October 15). The tours will start at the Plaza de California (in front of the Museum of Man) and end at the Organ Pavilion parking lot. In addition, the project team will also be hosting a booth at the upcoming MCAS Miramar Air Show September 30 to October 2.
- Uptown Planners Supports Plaza de Panama Project
Thank you Uptown Community Planning Group for voting in favor of the Plaza de Panama Project at this week's meeting! We are thrilled to have support from the group’s several communities including Hillcrest, Mission Hills, University Heights, Bankers Hill/Park West, Five Points/Middletown and Marston Hills.
- City Council Approves Plaza de Panama MOU
On July 19 the City Council voted 7-1 to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Plaza de Panama project. With the Council’s instrumental support, the Plaza de Panama Committee has been able to move forward with the environmental review process to improve Balboa Park. The environmental review ensures a thorough study of the project as well as evaluates alternatives plans suggested by members of the public.
- Plaza de Panama Design Team Making Great Headway
The design team is currently working on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project. The report is anticipated to be released for public review in November 2012.
- Public Outreach
The Plaza de Panama Design Team has been hosting several workshops with interested groups throughout San Diego County, including the Balboa Park Committee, Park & Recreation Design Review Committee and Park & Recreation Board. The workshops have proven to be very productive, with each group sharing valuable insight with the Design Team.
- Plaza de Panama Joins Twitter Community
Follow Plaza de Panama on Twitter to get the latest updates on the projects as it happens. Click here to check out the profile.
Environmental Impact Report
From March 23 through April 22, the City of San Diego led public scoping for the Plaza de Panama Project. The scoping period allowed the public to provide input on project alternatives that will be included for study in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The City held a scoping meeting on April 14th in the Balboa Park Ballroom to solicit public input regarding the scope and alternatives of the proposed EIR.
Now that the scoping process has been completed, the City is evaluating which project alternatives will be studied further in the EIR. The Draft EIR is anticipated to be released for public review and comment in late summer 2011.
Public Outreach
The Plaza de Panama project team has been making informational presentations about the project to interested groups all over San Diego. These groups have included the League of Women Voters, the Catfish Club, the East Village Association, the San Diego Downtown Partnership and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.
Most recently, at the League of Women Voters’ forum, project team members participated in a panel titled “Balboa Park: The Next Four Years”. The event was well-attended, and there was a discussion about the Plaza de Panama project, the Balboa Park Conservancy and other issues relevant to the park.
If you would like the project team to make an informational presentation to your group about the Plaza de Panama project, please send an email to info@plazadepanama.org . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the organization requesting the presentation. For upcoming presentations that are open to the public, please visit our Calendar page.
