The Chula Vista City Council unanimously approved plans Tuesday to transform a former aircraft manufacturing facility into a mixed-use development featuring offices, light industrial space and visitor amenities.
The Rohr Wohl Specific Plan covers approximately 45 acres along the H Street corridor, just west of Interstate 5 within the city’s coastal zone. The site formerly housed the Rohr Aircraft Facility, which closed in 2020 after operating for decades.
For comparison, the adjacent Gaylord Pacific Resort covers approximately 36 acres. The project site is bordered by Collins Aerospace and a casino to the north, the Chula Vista Marina to the south, Bay Boulevard to the east and the Gaylord Pacific Resort to the west.
Deputy Mayor Carolina Chavez said she was relieved development would finally surround the Gaylord Pacific Resort, an issue the city has discussed for years, and welcomed the addition of attractive amenities to promote tourism.
“This is the next beginning that we’re seeing for Chula Vista, and I could not be more excited,” Chavez said. “This change will also help attract tourism, much needed tourism.”
Since the Rohr Aircraft Facility’s closure, nearly 750,000 square feet of structures have been demolished. Cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination continues under oversight of the Regional Water Quality Control Board, according to city staff. Development cannot begin until the board grants final approval of the cleanup.
The plan divides the property into three areas. The first area covers nine acres, and is designated for light industrial and creative industries. The second and largest area, at 26 acres, will serve as the main employment center with offices, light industrial uses and supporting services. And the third, encompassing nine acres along H Street, is intended as a visitor gateway with potential hotels, restaurants, retail and entertainment venues.
“The project emphasizes a connected, walkable and bike friendly environment,” said Arturo Ortuño, senior planner with the city’s Development Services Department. “The project will provide a park once approach to allow individuals to walk or bike between shops, offices and visitor attractions.”
Truck traffic will be routed to Bay Boulevard and G Street, which aims to reduce impacts on H Street and nearby businesses, according to the staff presentation.
The San Diego Unified Port District raised concerns during the review process about the project’s proximity to Sweetwater Marsh and potential impacts on marsh-dependent species. The district also questioned whether future development phases would require additional environmental review.
But Ortuño said “an existing industrial use … is between the site and the marsh (and) provides a buffer that measurements confirm is more than a hundred feet from wetlands consistent with local coastal policies.”
Councilmember Jose Preciado said his support for the project hinges on its potential to bring higher-wage employment opportunities to West Chula Vista, an area that has historically attracted primarily low-wage jobs.
“It cannot be understated that we intend to create change in West Chula Vista with these kinds of projects,” Preciado said.