San Diego Convention Center Expansion: Phase 3

The Amendment to the South Embarcadero Urban Design and Signage Guidelines was created to ensure coordinated development between the SERP area and the Ballpark District in the East Village area of Downtown San Diego. Specifically, the amendment addresses the Park Boulevard view corridor and provides for additional pedestrian amenities and consistent streetscape design for the “Bay-to-Park Link.”

The California Coastal Commission staff report issued in November 2001 for the South Embarcadero Redevelopment Program 2 includes Coastal staff’s recommendations for the proposed Port Master Plan Amendment for the project.

PowerPoint presentation shown at November 9, 2010, media briefing related to the San Diego Convention Center Expansion: Phase 3.

The Coastal Development Permit for the Fifth Avenue Landing Water Transportation Center was issued by the Board of Port Commissioners on April 7, 2007. The permit describes the approved development and lists required conditions. Project features include: demolition of existing structures; construction on a 1-acre public park and 15-foot wide promenade connecting to the Hilton site improvements; ticket booth; restroom facilities; 25 parking spaces; and, landscaping and signage.

The Findings of Fact for the San Diego Convention Center Expansion Project were adopted by the Board of Port Commissioners on November 21, 1995 with the certification of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project. The expansion project allowed for an additional 800,000 sf of functional space on a 14.7-acre site adjacent to the convention center constructed in 1984. The project also included an amendment to the Port Master Plan to provide for the expansion project.

The Coastal Development Permit for the Hilton San Diego Convention Center Hotel, issued by the Board of Port Commissioners on November 30, 2004, describes the approved development and lists the required conditions of the permit. Features of the Hilton hotel project include: 1,000 to 1,200 rooms in a maximum 500-foot high hotel tower, along with restaurant, retail and other amenities; meeting and ballroom space; public art; and, a 4.3-acre waterfront public park/plaza and promenade. Attachment A to the permit also describes the project’s conformance with the certified Port Master Plan.

The purpose of the Port Master Plan (PMP) is to provide the planning policies for the physical development of the tidelands granted in trust to the San Diego Unified Port District. Port tidelands have been divided into planning districts. The San Diego Convention Center is located within Planning District 3, Center City Embarcadero. As described in the Precise Plan for Planning District 3, the basic concept of the redevelopment of the Embarcadero is to create a unified waterfront, both visually and physically, which creates an overall sense of place.

The EIR for the San Diego Convention Center Expansion and PMPA provides a review and analysis of the environmental impacts that could result from the implementation of the Convention Center Expansion project. Appropriate mitigation measures are recommended for significant impacts.

The 1984 San Diego Convention Center Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) includes the analysis of project impacts and mitigation included in the Draft EIR, as well as the comments submitted and the Port’s responses to those comments. The Project included the construction and operation of: up to 350,000 sf of exhibition space; 100,000 sf of meeting rooms; 267,000 sf of support and circulation space; 2,000 parking spaces; vehicular and pedestrian, and truck loading circulation elements; and, the option site hotel (now referred to as the Marriott) with up to 1,200 rooms, an additional 80,000 sf of meeting and restaurant space, 20,000 sf of specialty retail, and 1,400 parking spaces.

The South Embarcadero Redevelopment Program (SERP) 2 Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) analyzes potential impacts from the proposed changes to land use designations included in the associated Port Master Plan Amendment (PMPA) and implementation of the redevelopment program. The analysis includes mitigation measures to address significant impacts. The SERP 2 included the redevelopment of two lease hold areas: the development of a Convention Center Hotel on the former Campbell Industries Shipyard and a hotel on the Fifth Avenue Landing.

The South Embarcadero Redevelopment Program (SERP) 2 Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) contains the agency and public comments received on the SERP 2 Draft EIR and the Port’s responses to those comments.

The South Embarcadero Redevelopment Program (SERP) 2 Findings of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations, and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) were adopted by the Board of Port Commissioners on April 17, 2001 with the certification of the SERP 2 EIR. The MMRP helps to ensure the effective implementation and assigns responsibility for the mitigation measures identified in the EIR.

This PowerPoint presentation provides an overview of the project features and public benefits of the South Embarcadero Redevelopment Program 2.