Trust Lands Use Plan

The Trust Lands Use Plan (TLUP) establishes a comprehensive framework for the management and use of approximately 8,000 acres of tidelands and submerged lands under the jurisdiction of the San Diego Unified Port District, as granted under SB 507 and Chapter 5.7 of the Port Act. The plan directs future land and water use to balance safe navigation, commercial activity, fisheries, recreation, environmental stewardship, and public improvement, with specific zoning hierarchies that prioritize permitted uses, limit secondary uses to no more than 25% of project areas, and require 75% of shoreline frontage to remain dedicated to primary activities. Development must conform to regulatory standards including the California Building Code, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, CEQA, and the Coastal Act, while also adhering to spatial and ecological constraints designed to protect vulnerable species such as the California least tern and Western snowy plover. Environmental compliance is reinforced through monitoring programs, data submittals to the California Natural Diversity Database, and adherence to best management practices for hazardous materials, spill prevention, and pollution control as outlined in state and federal regulations like 40 CFR 112 and the Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act. The plan is implemented as an amendment to the Port Master Plan and is supported by environmental review documentation, including an Environmental Initial Study Checklist and Assembly Bill 52 Consultation materials, which confirm compliance with regulatory thresholds and mitigation measures for potentially significant environmental impacts. Although the document functions as a guiding policy and planning tool rather than a formal solicitation or procurement contract, it serves as the foundational authority for all future development activities within the trust lands. The San Diego Unified Port District retains full responsibility for oversight, inspection, and acceptance of compliance, with the Principal Planner serving as the primary point of contact for administrative coordination. There is no defined contract value, delivery schedule, or procurement mechanism associated with the TLUP, as it is not a competitive acquisition but a regulatory and land use planning instrument. Activities are executed under the District’s authority, with contractors and project proponents required to align all work with the TLUP’s use designations, environmental certifications, and reporting obligations, ensuring that development remains consistent with the dual goals of economic vitality and long-term ecological integrity of San Diego Bay’s tidelands.