Board of Port Commissioners
Port of San Diego
3165 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101
RE: Letter of Opposition to “Cottages at the Cays” Development Proposal for Coronado Cays
Dear Board of Port Commissioners:
The Coronado Cays Homeowners Association (“CCHOA”) joins the City of Coronado and the Coronado Cays Yacht Club to oppose this project for the same reasons that the Port turned down the leaseholder’s hotel proposal in 2020: (1) this project is incompatible with a small, residential neighborhood that only has one entrance; and (2) this project is strongly opposed by the surrounding community and by local officials. The project will cause increased traffic, noise and light pollution from constant trailer park guest activities and maintenance activities, increased delivery truck traffic, and increased erosion and potential damage to Grand Caribe Shoreline Park and the adjacent mitigation area.
The Coronado City Council voted unanimously to send a letter to the Port opposing the project, and did so on December 23, 2022 in a letter to the Port signed by Mayor Bailey. The Coronado Cays Yacht Club board also recently voted to affirm its opposition to the project, at considerable financial risk, as it subleases certain areas from the current leaseholder. The CCHOA also continues to strongly oppose this project. After the leaseholders first “public outreach” session, over 200 community members signed the CCHOA petition, and that number has grown to over 900 signatures today. The leaseholder’s public outreach session consisted of 90 minutes of the public voicing its opposition to the project.
The CCHOA agrees with the City of Coronado that, rather than a trailer park hotel on this small piece of land in a residential neighborhood, “a more compatible and desirable use” would be an extension of the existing Grand Caribe Shoreline Park, with an emphasis on free access to the bay shore, environmental education and environmental preservation. Using the ideas that formed the basis of the Port’s new Sweetwater Park, the CCHOA developed a concept for the park expansion (attached) that would provide free access to the community with areas for education, walking paths, and open water bay views. Parking and public restrooms could be placed on the small parcel on the west side of the isle, along with a native plant growing area. Emerald Keepers is already enthusiastic about the educational possibilities, we know Audubon would welcome a small growing area for their native plant restoration work at Grand Caribe Shoreline Park, and the CCHOA could coordinate with the Port, USFWS and Scripps to moor vessels that are engaged in research projects in the South Bay at CCHOA docks.
The need for the Port to preserve public access to one of the last remaining natural areas of bay front on the San Diego Bay has never been more critical. Grand Caribe Shoreline Park is one of the last remaining publicly accessible shoreline parks on the Bay where the public can walk along the shoreline in a natural area that is away from busy roadways and concrete structures.
We agree with the City of Coronado that this proposed project represents a reversal of the Port’s stated goals for North Grand Caribe Isle. The Port’s updated Master Plan re-designates this area as Recreation/Open Space, and states that no more hotel rooms will be built in this area. We stand ready with the City of Coronado to work with Port to expand the park in a manner that, in the City’s words, “serves the public interest by expanding access to Port Tidelands while simultaneously protecting our vital natural resources and wildlife.”
Sincerely,
Mark Crisson
President, CCHOA
Attachment:
Concept drawing for Grand Caribe Shoreline Park Extension
cc. Coronado Mayor and City Council Members
Coronado City Manager
Commodore, Coronado Cays Yacht Club