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2018 UC San Diego La Jolla Campus LRDP

The 2018 UC San Diego La Jolla Campus Long Range Development Plan (2018 LRDP) is a general land use plan that guides the physical development of the campus. The plan outlines possibilities for growth in a way that acknowledges the campus’s historic foundations, natural beauty and unique character while ensuring that UC San Diego can continue to advance its mission: to transform California and a diverse global society by educating, generating and disseminating knowledge and creative works, providing high-quality health care and by engaging in public service. The LRDP aligns with the goals of the university’s Strategic Plan while building upon foundational urban planning principles established by previous Long Range Development Plans and the 1989 Master Plan study.

Recognized as one of the top 15 research universities worldwide, UC San Diego is a catalyst for change, sparking discoveries that advance society, drive economic growth and positively impact the world.

In 2024, UC San Diego is embarking on an important effort to refresh its 10-Year Strategic Plan, remaining focused on the priorities that will support its continued growth and transformation as a public university. Keeping the LRDP current with the Strategic Plan helps to ensure UC San Diego’s priorities are aligned with a long-term planning horizon and shaped with an understanding of the opportunities and impacts of its growth. The UC Regents approved the La Jolla Campus 2018 LRDP in November 2018. The 2018 LRDP is the sixth comprehensive long-range plan for the physical development of the campus. UC San Diego produced previous plans in 1963, 1966, 1981, 1989 and 2004.

View the Final La Jolla Campus 2018 Long Range Development Plan (PDF).

Update to the 2018 UC San Diego La Jolla Campus LRDP

Expanding access to students seeking a high-quality education has been a priority for the State, the University of California and UC San Diego. It requires ongoing investments in infrastructure, classroom space as well as faculty and staff to enhance the student experience. The university’s growth reflects a focus on UC San Diego’s role as a leader in research and a destination public university that is student centered, research driven, patient dedicated and service oriented. UC San Diego’s mission is grounded in its commitment to service and guided by the Strategic Plan, including investments and strategies that advance the university’s responsibility as a public university.

Demand for higher education and system-wide priorities to increase enrollment has contributed to UC San Diego experiencing higher rates of admitted students and associated campus population growth than projected by the adopted 2018 LRDP. Increased enrollment growth rates, in addition to increased staff growth due to the academic, administrative and UC San Diego Health program needs, has prompted the need to reassess the future population and development projections of the adopted 2018 LRDP and accompanying Environmental Impact Report (EIR). UC San Diego’s Update to the 2018 LRDP would adjust these growth forecasts and extend the planning horizon year from 2035 to 2040 to better align with the university’s long-term Strategic Plan goals and priorities. In addition, the Update would make related modifications to the land use plan that support the refreshed long-term development program.

The proposed Update is not a new plan and would be supplementary to the adopted 2018 LRDP. The primary goals, objectives and principles of the 2018 LRDP would remain relevant and consistent with the proposed update. In accordance with Section 15162 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), UC San Diego will prepare a Subsequent EIR to evaluate and disclose potential impacts associated with approval and implementation of the proposed Update to the 2018 LRDP as well as changed conditions since the 2018 LRDP EIR was prepared.

To stay informed on the CEQA process related to the Update to the 2018 LRDP, email env-review@ucsd.edu with your name and email address.

Subsequent Draft Environmental Impact Report

An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is an informational document used to inform public agency decision makers and the general public of the potential significant environmental effects of a project, identify possible ways to mitigate or avoid the significant effects and describe a range of reasonable alternatives to the project that could feasibly attain most of its basic objectives while substantially lessening or avoiding any of the significant environmental impacts. A Subsequent EIR may be required when a substantial change is proposed to a project for which an EIR has been previously certified.

On February 29, 2024, UC San Diego issued a Notice of Preparation, a required step in the CEQA process intended to notify other agencies and the public on the decision to prepare a Subsequent EIR. The Subsequent EIR for the Update to the 2018 LRDP will incorporate by reference the certified 2018 LRDP EIR and will evaluate whether any new significant impacts or increase in severity of a previously identified impact would occur as a result of the update. New mitigation measures and alternatives may be proposed as part of the evaluation.

Notice of Preparation (PDF)

Public Scoping

The public scoping period is intended to offer an early opportunity for the campus community, neighbors, interested individuals, organizations and agencies to comment on the scope of the CEQA analysis. In compliance with time limits mandated by State law, the scoping period is anticipated to extend from February 29, 2024 to March 29, 2024.

Scoping comments can be emailed to env-review@ucsd.edu and must be received no later than 5 p.m. on March 29, 2024. To be considered, comments must focus on the content of the environmental analysis, mitigation measures, and alternatives analysis.

Interested individuals who wish to get additional information are invited to attend a Subsequent EIR Scoping Meeting on the UC San Diego campus. Written comments will also be accepted at the meeting.

Paid parking is available near the meeting venue. Please reach out to env-review@ucsd.edu should you require a subsidized parking pass to attend the meeting. For those who cannot attend the Public Scoping Meeting, the presentation will be recorded and available for streaming immediately following the meeting.

Subsequent Draft EIR

Comments received during the public scoping period will be considered during preparation of the Subsequent Draft EIR. Once the Subsequent Draft EIR is completed, a 45-day public review period will take place; this is expected to occur late summer 2024 and will be advertised, similar to the scoping period, with the addition of interested individuals who provided email addresses during the Scoping Period. Draft documents available for review will be posted here.

Frequent Asked Questions

Why is UC San Diego preparing an update to the 2018 LRDP?

Long Range Development Plans (LRDP) are updated periodically to meet changing needs and conditions. This process ensures that campus development supports academic, research and public service goals, while also responding to UC system-wide policies and projected enrollment demand.

UC San Diego is preparing an update to the 2018 LRDP for the La Jolla campus because the university has experienced higher rates of population growth than was anticipated during preparation of the 2018 LRDP and has the need to plan for additional facilities such as campus housing and academic/research and healthcare space. The update to the 2018 LRDP would refresh the previous growth and development projections and extend the planning horizon year from 2035 to 2040.

What is the anticipated projected growth being assumed in the update to the 2018 LRDP?

Land use development is expected to increase by approximately 30 percent from the projections outlined in the 2018 LRDP. While land use plans like the update to the 2018 LRDP project and outline the possibilities for growth, they do not mandate growth, nor do they commit campus to specific capital projects. 

Why does UC San Diego need to grow?

The university’s growth helps expand access to the top-ranked education, groundbreaking research, award-winning healthcare and community enrichment that UC San Diego is known to deliver.

UC San Diego’s mission is grounded in our commitment to service and guided by our strategic plan, which includes investments and strategies that advance our responsibility as a public university. Our growth reflects a focus on student access and support, but also UC San Diego’s role as a leader in research and a top destination for patient care.

Why is student enrollment growing so fast?

Expanding access to higher education has been a priority for the State, the University of California and UC San Diego over the last decade and continues to be a focus.

Governor Newsom and University of California announced a multi-year compact in 2022 that combines predictable increases in State funding for UC with a commitment to advance multiple shared student-focused goals. Under the compact, the university is required to increase undergraduate enrollment for California resident students. The compact also enjoys strong support from the Legislature, which has required continual growth from UC over the years.

UC San Diego is investing in classroom space and student housing to enhance the student experience, but also investing in expanded and improved research facilities as well as inpatient and outpatient medical facilities, given the university’s focus on research and patient care.

How does increasing enrollment directly contribute to the success of California?

As a top-ranked research university, UC San Diego develops students who are capable of solving problems, leading and innovating in a diverse and interconnected world.

Communities all over California benefit from the contributions of students who graduate from University of California:

  • UC-educated doctors are in 60 percent of California towns.
  • UC-educated teachers are in 75 percent of California public schools.
  • UC-educated Ph.Ds make up 20 percent of CSU faculty and 25 percent of UC faculty.
  • UC alums are also major contributors to California’s startup economy, launching new businesses, creating jobs and driving innovation.

UC San Diego plays an important role in the economic vitality of the state and contributes significantly to the regional economy (up to $9.3 billion, including $4.3 billion in direct spending), public health, research and innovation, access to exceptional education, and more. One in every 17 jobs in the City of San Diego (62,516 jobs) is linked to the university, which contributes $493.7 million in annual state and local tax revenue.

Has UC San Diego provided any local improvements to support increased growth?

The university has contributed millions of dollars to the city for local improvements supporting growth. These include:

  • $22 million for the City of San Diego fire station on the corner of North Torrey Pines Road and Genesee Avenue, scheduled to open this year.
  • Several acres of land as well as pedestrian, bicycle and wayfinding improvements around the two new campus UC San Diego Blue Line stops.
  • $7.8 million in contributions since 2011 for City of San Diego lifeguard services at Blacks Beach and the beach adjacent to the Scripps campus.
  • $2 million to implement adaptive traffic signal controls at 26 intersections along five miles of roadway surrounding campus, including Regents Road, La Jolla Village Drive and North Torrey Pines Road.
  • $13 million for a City of San Diego sewer upgrade along Gilman Drive south of La Jolla Village Drive. The campus also contributed $2.5 million for a new city sewer main on La Jolla Shores Drive that serves adjacent off-campus neighborhoods.
  • $25 million for the Gilman Bridge project with SANDAG and Caltrans that connects the East and West campuses to improve access and reduce traffic on surrounding city streets.
  • EV charging stations on campus offering lower rates than most community locations, available to all private vehicle owners. UC San Diego provides one of the nation's largest EV charging station networks.

How is green space preserved with the construction of additional buildings on the campus?

Recent projects on campus redeveloped surface parking lots (approximately six acres) to better utilize university land, while providing new open space amenities. The designs of current projects include natural light, natural landscape elements and open space for passive recreation and contemplation. In addition, the campus’s 335-acre Open Space Preserve land use will experience no reduction in acreage as a result of the update to the 2018 LRDP.

Is the university planning to analyze impacts to transportation?

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines require that a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis be prepared to assess transportation-related project impacts.

Has UC San Diego contributed to increased traffic in and around La Jolla?

UC San Diego is recognized to have a far reduced VMT compared to the City of San Diego and greater region. The majority of UC San Diego students and employees (56%) take advantage of alternative commuting methods. The campus is well served by transit, with two campus trolley stations along the UC San Diego Blue Line, as well as multiple major bus routes and an extensive internal campus shuttle system. The campus offers subsidized transit passes for students and staff, telework agreements (remote/hybrid work), ridesharing and alternative transportation incentives.

Does UC San Diego plan to grow in other parts of the region?

As one example, UC San Diego will increase access to UC San Diego Health’s nationally ranked medical specialties and world-class patient care with the multi-year, multi-billion revitalization of the Hillcrest campus.

What is the process going forward? How can people learn more and provide feedback?

In accordance with Section 15162 of the CEQA Guidelines, UC San Diego will prepare a

Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) to evaluate and disclose potential environmental impacts associated with approval and implementation of the proposed update to the 2018 LRDP, as well as changed conditions since the 2018 LRDP Environmental Impact Report was prepared. Refer to the “Subsequent Draft Environmental Impact Report” section above for information on the CEQA process and its public engagement opportunities.

2018 LRDP Environmental Impact Report

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), prior to beginning the Draft Environmental Impact Report, UC San Diego issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) and conducted a public and agency scoping process to consider input on the range of impacts and approach to the environmental analysis process. The NOP review period began November 4, 2016 and ended Dec. 5, 2016. UC San Diego held a Public Scoping meeting on November 29, 2016.

UC San Diego circulated the Draft EIR for a 45-day public review period from July 30, 2018 through September 12, 2018 and invited agencies and the public to provide comments. Responses to all comments received are included with the Final EIR. UC San Diego staff held a public hearing and gave a presentation on the Draft EIR on August 23, 2018. After the presentation, the public had an opportunity to provide oral and written comments. A court reporter recorded the hearing and the transcript is included with the Final EIR.

In accordance with established University of California procedures, the UC Board of Regents approved the 2018 LRDP and certified the Final EIR on November 15, 2018. You can view the three volumes of Final EIR using the links below.