National City Port Remodel Kicks Off
Article courtesy of San Diego Union Tribune
By Phillip Molnar
Thousands of cars wait to be distributed at the National City Marine Terminal on April 1 where Pasha Services takes in and ships out cars via land sea and rail.—John Gibbins
The Unified Port of San Diego took a step Thursday to give its biggest maritime money maker more room and the public more space to play at the waterfront.
The board’s unanimous vote launched an environmental review — a process that could take up to two years — of improvements and changes at the port’s National City terminal that is dominated by auto importer Pasha Automotive Services.
Pasha has insisted for years that it needed more space, especially as auto sales hit a record high in 2015. Delays in getting the foreign cars off boats two weeks ago resulted in four cargo ships stuck off the coast of Coronado for days.
By cutting out space used for streets and resting areas for cargo, the plan gives Pasha more room to move more vehicles. It also slightly increases the public’s access to the water by adding park and open space land.
“What this plan does is provide a win for the port, a win for the tenants and a win for the community,” said port commissioner Robert Valderrama at the board meeting.
The plan is still subject to change under environmental review, but the main features include:
- Expanding Pepper Park from 5.19 acres to 7.69 acres.
- Adding a rail line along Marina Way that will give Pasha the ability to move vehicles day and night. Right now, vehicles can only be moved at night. The additional track would connect directly to BNSF Railway’s National City yard, giving Pasha more rail and car storage and the ability to get out a second daily train.
- Removing portions of Marina Way and West 32nd Street to develop more commercial space. A proposal from GB Capital, not yet approved, would use the space for a luxury RV resort, an 11-story hotel and conference center, and boutique hotels “when economically viable.”
- Swapping 0.59 acres from an area for recreational boat berthing at its southern end for commercial development.
The plan must still be approved by the California Coastal Commission.
The port gets roughly $30 for each vehicle that Pasha brings in. The company moved 425,253 vehicles in 2015. National City, on the other hand, receives no money from Pasha’s operation, kicking up tension between city officials and the port.
However, the plan was unanimously approved by the National City Council last week and many community members expressed joy at the port meeting that the park would be expanded.
At the meeting, National City Mayor Ron Morrison said he was impressed that the different agencies even got to this point. “We have people that are coming into a sense of agreement, and that is amazing,” he said. “Now the idea is to carry it on through.”
Nearly a dozen employees from Pasha and National City residents addressed the board to voice support.
Pasha employee Jose Heredia said a job with the car importer allowed him to afford a home in National City for his family. “I can’t say enough good things about Pasha,” Heredia said. “I want to work there as long as I can, so I’m really excited about the new project.”
Port commissioner Ann Moore said she could see compromises in the plan from the different parties. “I think we’re going to have another award-winning plan here,” she said. “I can just feel it.”