The Board of Port Commissioners adopted a resolution on February 2, 2010, approving a land exchange between the Port and North C.V. Waterfront L.P., also known as Pacifica. The land exchange is the first step in the redevelopment of the Chula Vista bayfront, which will include a balance of jobs, environmental buffers, housing and recreation.

The land exchange will swap 97 acres owned by Pacifica Holdings, which are located near an environmentally sensitive area, with 35 acres closer to the harbor of Chula Vista. Doing so would keep development away from the National Wildlife Refuge and the Chula Vista Nature Center, and move it to the more active harbor area.

In addition to the land exchange, the Board of Port Commissioners approved a second amendment to the relocation agreement between the City of Chula Vista, the redevelopment agency of the City of Chula Vista, the San Diego Unified Port District and Rohr, Inc., operating as Goodrich Aerostructures. The agreement was necessary because it facilitates the possible location of residential development near Goodrich’s existing manufacturing operations. The agreement also supports the continued clean-up of environmental contaminants from historic manufacturing operations on Goodrich’s former south campus.

The second amendment to the agreement will create a 1,200-foot setback between proposed residential developments and existing manufacturing operations. It also ensures that proposed future residential development and existing manufacturing operations on the bay front co-exist as “good neighbors.”

Stephen Padilla, who represents Chula Vista on the Board of Port Commissioners, said he’s been a long-time supporter of the bay front redevelopment. He noted that when he was mayor of that city, he was one of the early supporters of the land exchange, which many in the community were reluctant to embrace.