San Diego

The California Coastal Commission agreed unanimously Friday to approve the first phase of a sprawling scientific research park atop Torrey Pines Mesa, but delayed a decision on the rest of the proposal because of environmental concerns.

Leaders of the Sierra Club and homeowners around the site of the 300-acre Torrey Pines Science Center asked for the two-month delay so local residents can voice worries during the commission’s April meeting in San Diego.

Environmentalists have expressed concern about the project because of the impact of grading on a large canyon on the eastern edge of the project that contains 22 acres of coastal sage shrub and is a prime habitat for the black-tailed gnatcatcher, a bird being considered for the U.S. endangered species list.

Although the commission agreed to delay a decision on the bulk of the project, it gave the green light for the first phase, which will consist of several research buildings on a less-sensitive parcel sandwiched between North Torrey Pines Road and the existing General Atomics plant. The first phase encompasses roughly one-eighth of the proposal.

The project, being planned by the Chevron Land & Development Co., is bounded by Interstate 5 on the east, Genesee Avenue to the south and North Torrey Pines Road on the west. The entire proposal calls for 2.5 million square feet of office space for as many as 30 firms and between 3,000 and 5,000 employees.