Parking Lot Use as Ancillary Space for the GSV Summit Event at Seaport Village
Summary
SCH Number
2025030764
Public Agency
San Diego Unified Port District
Document Title
Parking Lot Use as Ancillary Space for the GSV Summit Event at Seaport Village
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/19/2025
Document Description
The proposed project would involve the use of parking lot space at Seaport Village by Global Silicon Valley (Applicant) for the GSV Summit Event in the city of San Diego, California. The event, an annual EdTech conference held at the Grand Manchester Hyatt San Diego (Hyatt), has previously used a small section of the parking lot for temporary activations connected with the event, and proposes to continue and expand this activation to offer more content to guests at an outdoor stage and lounge.
Approximately thirty (30) parking spaces in the outdoor parking lot across Market Pl., directly south of the Hyatt, would be utilized by the Applicant to accommodate the outdoor stage and lounge set-up. A connecting pathway from the main event to the exterior lot via the Hyatt loading dock would be installed to guide attendees between the two spaces. Set up for the exterior portion of the event would specifically consist of the following:
• One (1) 40-foot by 60-foot tent with fabric walls to contain sound bleed from the stage.
• Stage risers, backdrop and miscellaneous AV to support presentations for 150 seated guests.
• Generator to support AV system and HVAC within the tent.
• Additional lounge and activity seating outside the tent related to the sponsor and stage content.
• Perimeter barricades for event security and crowd control.
There is possibility of a small bar for hosted receptions that would be serviced by Seaport Village tenants to provide potential beer and wine service in this space. Due to the sale of alcohol, temporary fencing is required to be installed around the footprint of the exterior space. Additionally, an RV truck for event partners at Road Trip Nation would share a portion of the exterior space.
The exterior lot would be used throughout the duration of the event, or approximately three (3) days, with an additional day for set up preceding the event; breakdown would directly follow the closure of the event on its final day. The event would last from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on its first two (2) days, and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on its final day. Pending approval of a service permit, the small bar would provide potential beer and wine service during select hours within the preceding timeframes.
Due to its temporary nature and limited scope, the proposed project would generate a minor amount of vehicle trips and would require limited use of equipment. Therefore, impacts related to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and transportation and traffic are not anticipated to occur. Furthermore, the Applicant would be responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding construction demolition debris, hazards and hazardous materials, and stormwater.
Contact Information
Name
Davin Cox
Agency Name
San Diego Unified Port District
Job Title
Assistant Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Josie Parry
Agency Name
Global Silicon Valley (GSV)
Job Title
Event Operations
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
San Diego
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Market Place and Kettner Boulevard
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Class 4); Section 15323 (Class 23)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is determined to be Categorically Exempt pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) and 15323 (Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gatherings), and Section 3.d. of the District’s Guidelines for Compliance with CEQA because it is a temporary use of a space for a temporary event that would result in no permanent effects on the environment, would not involve the removal of mature, scenic trees, and would consist of the normal operation of existing facilities for public gatherings. Section 3.d. of the District’s CEQA Guidelines and Section 15323 of the CEQA Guidelines are as follows:
3.d. Minor Alterations to Land (SG § 15304) (Class 4): Includes minor alterations in the condition of land, water and/or vegetation not involving removal of mature, scenic trees, including, but not limited to:
(6) Minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment.
AND/OR
Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gatherings: Consists of the normal operations of existing facilities for public gatherings for which the facilities were designed, where there is a past history of the facility being used for the same or similar kind of purpose. For the purposes of this section, “past history” shall mean that the same or similar kind of activity has been occurring for at least three years and that there is a reasonable expectation that the future occurrence of the activity would not represent a change in the operation of the facility. Facilities included within this exemption include, but are not limited to, racetracks, stadiums, convention centers, auditoriums, amphitheaters, planetariums, swimming pools, and amusement parks.
County Clerk
San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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