Port of San Diego Releases Draft EIR for the East Harbor Island Redevelopment/Topgolf and Waterfront Park Project for Public Review

Download full size image

The Port of San Diego has published the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the East Harbor Island Redevelopment/Topgolf and Waterfront Park Project for public review and comment.

Draft EIR and Public Comment Instructions
The Draft EIR is available for public review online and in person at:

• Online: portofsandiego.org/public-records/port-updates/notices-disclosures/ceqa-documents

• In Person:

  • Port of San Diego Office of the District Clerk (during normal business hours)
    3165 Pacific Highway
    San Diego, CA 92101

  • San Diego Central Library
    330 Park Boulevard
    San Diego, CA 92101

The public comment period closes at 5 p.m. on August 24, 2026. Written comment letters stating specific environmental concerns with the Draft EIR can be:

• Emailed to mhamilton@portofsandiego.org
• Mailed to:
  • Port of San Diego
    Attn: Megan Hamilton, Development Services Department
    3165 Pacific Highway
    San Diego, CA 92101-1128

Project Information
As part of efforts to enhance and activate the San Diego Bayfront, the Port of San Diego proposes to redevelop an industrial site on a portion of East Harbor Island, adding public access and commercial recreation where there is not any today. The project calls for a new public waterfront park and public promenade, an entertainment district anchored by Topgolf, and supporting infrastructure. The site is in the east basin area of Harbor Island adjacent to Harbor Police Headquarters and across from the airport. It is currently used for off-airport surface parking, rental car facility operations, and temporary airport construction support operations.

The project proposes the following:

• New public waterfront park (10.1 acres) with:

  • A 20-foot-wide waterfront promenade

  • Active and passive uses (such as plaza areas, a pavilion, playgrounds, cultural uses, seating, shade structures, public art, and restrooms)

• Entertainment district (16.5 acres) with:

  • Topgolf (9.8 acres)

  • Additional “eatertainment” concepts that are to be determined via a competitive public solicitation process

• Realignment of Liberator Way, which would also include:

  • New public parking

  • Pedestrian sidewalks

  • Planting buffers

  • Reconfiguration and/or modification of intersections at North Harbor Drive and Harbor Island Drive

• Landscaping and supporting public infrastructure and utilities

Next Steps
To date, no project, including the proposed Topgolf facility, has been approved by the Board of Port Commissioners. Port staff will review the comments received on the Draft EIR and responses to these comments will be incorporated into a Final EIR. In late 2026, Port staff anticipate taking the Final EIR and a Port Master Plan Amendment (if the Port Master Plan Update isn’t certified) to the Board for consideration. For the proposed Topgolf portion of the project, staff will also bring an Option to Lease agreement to the Board for consideration. Additionally, Port staff anticipate issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for parcels adjacent to Topgolf. The timeline for issuance of the RFP is to be determined.