USA: LA Board of Harbor Commissioners Approves New Port Master Plan

The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners today approved a new Port Master Plan that is the first comprehensive update of the Port’s development policies and procedures since its original plan took effect more than three decades ago.

The new Plan incorporates previous amendments and anticipated future changes to the use of property within the coastal zone managed by the Port. The document promotes orderly development consistent with the Port’s long-term goals of making the best use of its land and water resources, increasing terminal efficiency, accommodating diverse cargoes, increasing public access to the waterfront, enhancing recreational uses, and working to preserve the Port’s heritage through adaptive reuse of historic buildings and sites.

“The updated Port Master Plan is a new roadmap for a new era,” said Harbor Commission President Cindy Miscikowski. “It ensures the most efficient, beneficial and responsible use of this vital asset for our city and our nation.”

“This comprehensive update reflects our evolution, growth and priorities going forward,” said Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. “For example, the updated plan preserves the fishing community at Fish Harbor while ensuring Terminal Island is primarily designated for cargo handling and related uses.”

“We are thrilled that the Master Plan Update provides a path to preservation for the reuse of underutilized and vacant historic buildings on Terminal Island,” said Los Angeles Conservancy Executive Director Linda Dishman. “Those buildings tell the stories of the people that worked in the canneries and shipyards and lived in the Japanese fishing village. These are important stories for all of Los Angeles.”

In accordance with applicable laws, the Port Master Plan sets forth development policies for the Port to promote commerce, navigation, fisheries, recreation and environmental protection and provides for the Port to adapt to changing technology, cargo trends, regulations and competition from other U.S. and foreign seaports.

The updated Port Master Plan:

• Reduces the number of planning areas from nine to five: San Pedro, West Basin/Wilmington, Terminal Island, Fish Harbor and Waterways.
• Clarifies the planning process and, in alignment with today’s practices and goals, specifies a single land use designation for the most parcels within the Port district.
• Simplifies the process for issuing coastal permits by reducing the number of permit types to two from three, and delegates the authority to approve permits for the minor land and/or water use changes to the Executive Director. Major land and water use developments will continue to require a public hearing and approval by the Board of Harbor Commissioners.
• Updates the Port’s Risk Management Plan for assessing the potential risks related to the storage and transfer of crude oil and petroleum products.

The development process for the updated Port Master Plan began more than 18 months ago with input from industry, tenants, labor, governmental agencies, the community and other stakeholders. Like its predecessor, the new Plan is subject to certification by the California Coastal Commission.

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Press Release, August 9, 2013