The Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego, alleging that officials violated state environmental laws when they revised a decades-old grant deed for Surf Cup Sports Park. The move by the City Council aimed to resolve a previous lawsuit concerning the commercial use of public parklands along the San Dieguito River, but has now drawn the ire of the environmental nonprofit.
Key Takeaways
- The Sierra Club is suing the City of San Diego over changes to a grant deed governing Surf Cup Sports Park.
- The lawsuit claims the city violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by not conducting a proper review.
- Critics argue the lease changes allow for increased commercial exploitation of land originally intended as open space.
- The city previously rewrote the grant deed terms to end restrictions on land use.
Legal Challenge Over Land Use
The lawsuit stems from the San Diego City Council’s decision in October to terminate a 1980s-era grant deed that had imposed restrictions on the use of the land now occupied by Surf Cup Sports. The Sierra Club contends that this action, along with the approval of a new lease allowing Surf Cup to generate significant revenue, stripped away protective use restrictions intended to preserve the land as open space in perpetuity.
Environmental Concerns and CEQA Violation Allegations
The environmental nonprofit is seeking a court order to set aside the city’s approvals and compel a review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Sierra Club argues that the city failed to adequately assess the environmental impacts of removing the open space protections and modifying the lease terms. They assert that the land was granted to the city with explicit requirements to maintain it as open space, not for intensive commercial activities.
Background of the Dispute
This legal action is the latest development in a long-standing dispute over the approximately 100 acres leased to Surf Cup Sports. Environmentalists and local residents have previously sued the city, citing concerns that the youth soccer tournaments and other events hosted at the park disrupt wildlife habitats and violate the terms of the original 1983 grant deed. This deed, acquired by the city from Watt Industries, dedicated a portion of the property to remain as open space.
Lease Modifications and Community Opposition
In October, the City Council voted to end the original grant deed restrictions and approved an amended lease. While the city stated this included a 40-day limit on large events, critics argue that the definition of "large events" and the overall intensification of use exceed historical patterns and negatively impact the surrounding community and the San Dieguito River Park. The City Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
Sources
- Sierra Club sues city of San Diego over revised Surf Cup lease – San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune.
- Sierra Club sues San Diego for ending Surf Sports Park grant deed, The Coast News Group.
