The city of Chula Vista is one step closer to finalizing a memorandum of understanding with HomeFed Corp. for the future development on the city’s university park and business innovation district
“We’ve reached a point where there’s an agreement on both sides about all of the general business terms for moving forward in forging this partnership,” said City Manager Gary Halbert at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Last December the Carlsbad-based HomeFed and the city of Chula Vista entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement to potentially serve as the master developer for the 370-acre university and innovation district.
Eric Crockett, development services director, said he anticipates the city will secure the 370 acres for the project by the end of the year.
The MOU would allow HomeFed the opportunity and the responsibility of doing most of the planning and the work in establishing the university and research center.
Crockett said the plan is for an agreement on the remaining business terms to be made so that it can be brought to City Council together with an environmental impact report.
Crockett said the master development agreement outlines HomeFed’s dedication to spending not less than $5 million in development, planning and recruitment of the university.
The council also received a general update on the planning for the project.
“The biggest thing that we’re working on these days is land acquisition,” said Scott Donaghe, a principal planner for the university project.
Donaghe also said the city is working with consultants on conducting an Environmental Impact Report.
Donaghe also said they are working on the first drafts for the study of the traffic, biology and the geotechnical aspects of the project.
He also said he is expecting that the city will put a Notice of Preparation out in the community by the end of the year.
A Notice of Preparation informs the community of the city’s attempt to prepare an Environmental Impact Report.
Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox said she is happy to see progress being made on the much-anticipated project.
“What people of Chula Vista deserve is for their city council to make the best decisions with their managers and staff on the opportunities for young people in Chula Vista to get a four-year education,” she said.
Councilman Rudy Ramirez said despite a potential MOU, there still is a lot of work that needs to get done.
“I think (this is) a modest first step, a conservative first step moving forward,” he said.
“There’s really a lot, a lot of work left to do. This kind of lays the foundation, a general structure of how this thing moves forward.”
