Ships are starting to hit the plan in Barrio Logan. A group of ship repair companies have united and hired a lobbyist to start pounding the pavement at City Hall in hopes of getting a more industry-friendly update to the community plan.

According to a September 27 disclosure, San Diego Ship Repair Association, which consists of BAE Systems, Continental Maritime San Diego, and General Dynamics/NASSCO, hired the lobbying outfit Southwest Strategies to push for an update that does not overly favor the residential zones over the commercial. Representatives from those companies say that the plan approved by the Democratic members of the council places the onus on them and their suppliers by forcing them to obtain Conditional Use Permits to operate in a "buffer zone" which would prohibit development of residential units and industrial businesses.

But the Big Three aren't the only ones to come together in opposition to the plan. Also joining the San Diego Ship Repair Association, listed in a separate filing, are Pacific Ship Repair, Performance Contracting Inc., and US Joiner LLC.

Southwest Strategies has quite a crew on hand to try and set a different course at City Hall. The disclosure shows that the lobbying firm has 19 registered lobbyists assigned to 202 C Street.

In addition to representing the maritime industry, Southwest Strategies has also been hired by the Barrio Logan Smart Growth Coalition, a group has fought alongside the ship builders for more industry-friendly amendments. The group is led by Matt Carr, president of Cal Marine Cleaning, has called the compromise brokered by councilmember David Alvarez unfair. Joining up with Carr, according to the September 27 disclosure, is Jerry Gray of Sloan Electric.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2013/jun/26/cover-hard-breathe-barrio-logan/

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/news-ticker/2013/apr/25/fourteen-barrio-logan-property-owners-represented-/

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/sep/25/maritime-industry-fights-back-against-barrio-logan/