De Anza Natural Unanimously Approved by the San Diego City Council

Long-Term Plan Aims to Enhance and Revitalize the De Anza Cove Area for Continued Recreation and Restored Wetlands

May 14, 2024

The De Anza Natural amendment to the Mission Bay Park Master Plan – a long-term development plan that aims to enhance and revitalize the De Anza Cove area for continued recreation and restored wetlands - was unanimously approved by the City Council this afternoon.

The amendment envisions a balance of land uses that serve local and regional recreational needs, provide access to low-cost coastal visitor accommodations – like campsites – and restore natural wetland habitats to prepare for the effects of climate change by reducing the impact of sea-level rise and improving water quality. The final programmatic environmental impact report (PEIR) – which includes a sea-level rise analysis – was also certified by the Council today.

"The unanimous approval of the De Anza Natural amendment marks a significant milestone in our years-long effort to preserve and enhance one of San Diego's most beloved recreational areas," said Mayor Todd Gloria. "This plan will not only restore vital wetland habitats, but also ensure that De Anza Cove remains a vibrant space for recreation, low-cost visitor accommodations and environmental education for generations to come."

The passage of De Anza Natural follows robust community engagement opportunities going back to 2018 when the City released its initial concept proposal. City Planning staff have conducted outreach with key stakeholders, including passionate community members, the Mission Bay Park Committee and the Parks and Recreation Board, using their input to inform the amendment. The De Anza Natural amendment approved by Council today reflects their work in fine-tuning the land uses and increasing the preservation and restoration of natural resources ensuring a balance to meet the needs of a variety of users.

“We know how important De Anza Cove is to San Diegans, and we want to plan for its long-term success with enhanced wetland habitat and exciting opportunities for people to continue to stay and play in this beloved corner of Mission Bay,” said City Planning Director Heidi Vonblum. “We look forward to seeing De Anza Natural come to life with a balance of recreational uses and the wetland habitat, all while preparing for the effects of climate change.”

The Planning Commission considered the De Anza Cove amendment in December 2023 and it went before the Environment Committee in April of this year. In response to comments received during and after those meetings, several policies were expanded to better address boating, habitat and sensitive species protections, climate change resilience and public access, as well as future coordination with existing uses and tenants to minimize any disruption to the services and amenities enjoyed by San Diegans and visitors alike. Before the amendment becomes fully effective, it will need to be certified by the California Coastal Commission.

De Anza Natural provides broad plans to enhance recreational activities in the area with new and improved programs, such as an extensive multi-use waterfront trail, a nature center and a small non-motorized boat area on the cove. The area would also remain a recreational hotspot offering a variety of active sports and recreation facilities, such as golf facilities, tennis courts and ball fields. The proposal includes space for low-cost visitor accommodations like camping and recreational vehicle facilities.

In future phases, the City will hold additional public workshops and meetings through the General Development Plan process to develop detailed design plans for site-specific uses. The amendment also provides opportunities to partner and collaborate with the Kumeyaay Nation on the planning and restoration of the area in a manner that recognizes their past and present traditional cultural use of Mission Bay Park and ensures continued traditional cultural use into the future.

Given the scale of the envisioned improvements, it is likely that development will be phased over many years. In the interim, it is anticipated that existing recreational uses will continue to operate for the enjoyment of community members and visitors.

The Mission Bay Park Master Plan, adopted in 1994, called for 80 acres of wetlands. The project area, located in the northeast corner of Mission Bay Park, currently consists of approximately 191 acres of open water. To ensure consistency with the City’s Climate Action Plan and Climate Resilient SD plan, which lay out strategies to address climate change, De Anza Natural adds 143 acres of restored wetlands.

To view the full amendment, visit the City’s Planning Department webpage.

Inside San Diego

De Anza Natural Unanimously Approved by the San Diego City Council

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