The proposed expansion of the San Diego Convention Center reached a milestone on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, when the Board of Port Commissioners approved key actions paving the way for the Convention Center addition and a hotel of up to 500 rooms.

Expansion of the Convention Center is expected to provide an economic boost to the city and region, providing more than $13 million in new tax revenue, nearly 4,000 construction jobs and an additional 6,885 permanent jobs and generating millions of dollars in additional revenue for the region’s economy, according to the Mayor’s Citizens Task Force on the Convention Center expansion.

The Board of Port Commissioners will be asked on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, to approve key documents that will move forward the San Diego Convention Center expansion. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m., in the Port of San Diego Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego (Map).

During public hearings, the Port staff will ask for Board certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report and approval of a  Port Master Plan Amendment (1.87 MB) on the proposed Convention Center expansion and an expansion hotel of up to 500 rooms. If approved, the amendment will be forwarded to the California Coastal Commission for approval. That is anticipated to occur in early 2013.

The Port of San Diego has completed a report on the environmental impacts of the Convention Center Expansion and Hotel project. A public hearing on the report will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the regular Board of Port Commissioners Meeting.

Members of the public, organizations, and government agencies are encouraged to attend the 1 p.m. meeting at the Port of San Diego Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego (map).

• Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR)