San Diego

The San Diego Unified Port District has hired a private consulting group to assess the environmental consequences of constructing a park and an adjacent 700-foot ship repair yard, which has been the subject of controversy among neighborhood groups in the Logan Heights area.

The Harborview Community Council opposes the ship repair yard, which it claims would ruin the park’s atmosphere. Another neighborhood group, the Chicano Negotiating Committee, has praised construction of the park. Chicano Negotiating Committee officials say the neighborhood is in great need of a recreational area.

Port commissioners approved the appointment of the Butler/Roach Group Inc. on Tuesday to analyze the environmental impact of the two developments. The group will work with two additional firms to analyze noise, air and water quality, parking, traffic volume, and pedestrian access and safety in the two areas.

The Butler/Roach Group was chosen from a list of nine consulting groups that filed applications with the Port District in May.

Port commissioners chose Butler/Roach from among nine applicants because, they said, it exhibited the best understanding of the potential conflicts in the area and had experience with projects that juxtapose recreational and industrial developments.

The consulting group has six weeks to submit an environmental impact report, which the Port District will then forward to the California Coastal Commission for final approval. The Port District plans to hold public hearings during the course of the environmental impact study.