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Plan includes roadmap for best use of land and water resources
The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a new Port Master Plan – its first update of the port’s development policies and procedures since its original plan took effect more than three decades ago
“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.”
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 also identifies how the port can achieve its 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.
“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.”
The updated Port Mater 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, labour, governmental agencies, the community and other stakeholders.
