San Diego council corrects Barrio Logan land‑use map, rezones to protect Chicano Park

The San Diego City Council on March 17 voted unanimously to approve community plan corrections and rezonings in Barrio Logan meant to restore park designations and prevent commercial development on parcels identified in the 2021 community plan.

City planning staff told the council the amendments correct map errors that arose during a 2023 certification process with the California Coastal Commission. The fixes redesignate portions of Boston Avenue and adjacent areas as park or neighborhood village and rezone 13.8 acres of Chicano Park and a portion of the Boston Avenue linear park to park zones to match existing and intended uses.

"Earlier this year, city planning became aware that Caltrans was in the process of selling a property on the western corner of Boston Avenue and 29th Street," senior planner Victoria Teese told council. Staff said the sale would have been inconsistent with the park designation created in the 2021 plan and would have required a further plan amendment to permit commercial development; the correction is intended to preclude that outcome.

Community members, environmental advocates and the Barrio Logan planning group supported the change, telling council the revisions safeguard long‑standing community priorities and help protect residents from polluting uses next to homes. Chicano Park stewards asked for direct consultation with the park steering committee; staff said it had verified the rezone would not reduce park boundaries but acknowledged the committee wished to meet and staff will do so.

The council approved the amendments and rezones and staff said the changes will still require certification by the California Coastal Commission before becoming effective because the plan area sits in the coastal zone. Planning staff estimated the Coastal Commission review could be requested for expedited consideration; they suggested certification could be completed within months.

The vote signals city support for the community’s long‑running effort to expand and legally secure park space in Barrio Logan and to reduce the risk that former mapping errors could allow incompatible uses adjacent to Chicano Park.