City releases new details on De Anza Cove plan

New details are now available about the City of San Diego’s plan for De Anza Cove at Mission Bay Park. On Tuesday, March 7, the City released the draft De Anza Cove Amendment to the Mission Bay Park Master Plan. The draft amendment, titled De Anza Natural, envisions a balance of land uses that serve local and regional recreational needs, provides access to low-cost coastal visitor accommodations, like campsites, and restores natural habitats to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

San Diegans are encouraged to review the additional information and continue providing their input as the plan development moves ahead.

“We know how important De Anza Cove is to our residents and visitors and we want to make sure the area has a bright future by retaining recreation while also using its unique features for a more natural habitat and to prepare us for the effects of climate change,” said City Planning Director Heidi Vonblum. “We look forward to ongoing input to ensure we make it a place for all San Diegans to enjoy.”

The City released its initial concept proposal for the De Anza Cove area in 2018, which was updated and released for public review again in January 2022. Since then, City staff has used community member and stakeholder input to draft De Anza Natural and will continue to take input until it is considered for adoption by the City Council. This is anticipated to happen by the end of the year.

De Anza Natural does not include detailed design plans for site-specific uses but 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. Examples could include golf facilities, tennis courts and ball fields. The proposal includes space for low-cost visitor accommodations like camping and recreational vehicle facilities. These spaces, set amid expanded and restored coastal wetlands, will provide exciting new opportunities for eco-tourism and environmental education.

The Mission Bay Park Master Plan, adopted in 1994, called for 80 acres of wetlands. 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 would provide more than 220 acres of wetlands. It also focuses on nature-based solutions to protect these resources from the effects of sea level rise.

In future phases, following the adoption of De Anza Natural, City staff will hold more public workshops and meetings through the General Plan Development process to develop detailed design plans for site-specific uses.  In the interim, it is anticipated that existing recreational uses will continue to operate for the enjoyment of community members and visitors.

San Diegans are encouraged to learn more and submit their comments on the De Anza Natural draft amendment on the webpage.

Along with the draft amendment, the City also released the amendment’s draft programmatic environmental impact report (PEIR). Comments on the PEIR analysis can be submitted to PlanningCEQA@sandiego.gov by the close of its formal public review period on Thursday, April 20.

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