San Diego International Boat Show at Harbor Island East Basin
Summary
SCH Number
2025051337
Public Agency
San Diego Unified Port District
Document Title
San Diego International Boat Show at Harbor Island East Basin
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/29/2025
Document Description
The proposed project would be for the annual San Diego International Boat Show event (Event) at Safe Harbor Sunroad in Harbor Island East Basin by SHM Marina, LLC (Tenant). Approximately 2,000 visitors would be expected to attend the pre-show Event (one (1) day) and approximately 7,000 daily visitors would be expected to attend the Event (three (3) days) This approval would cover the San Diego International Boat Show Event annually, beginning in 2025, provided that the Event remains within approximately the same temporary footprint for the land and water components, time of year, duration (approximately 13 days from setup to breakdown), and operating and environmental conditions described in this project description. The Tenant would be responsible for coordinating the Event with applicable agencies, including the City of San Diego, fire department, Coast Guard, and US Army Corps of Engineers. Further details on the proposed project are as follows:
Land Component
The Safe Harbor Sunroad eastern parking lot, pool, and lounge would comprise the land component of the Event. Approximately 75 spaces in the parking lot would be covered in temporary tents and booths used for displaying vehicles, vessels, and other related services and products. The pool and lounge would be activated with musical performances and associated entertainment and would be subject to the City of San Diego Noise Ordinance. The parking lot would also include the check-in areas and walkway entrance to the docks. Small Generators would be used to power specific areas of the on-land activation. Existing restrooms, including ADA options, are available at the project site, but additional restrooms would be available via restroom trailers brought in for the Event. The Event would offer both paid onsite and offsite parking. A shuttle would run during the Event to take guests to and from offsite parking locations. Onsite parking would be offered within the Tenant’s leasehold, while offsite parking locations would include suitable parking lots in the general vicinity of the project site. Designated onsite and offsite parking locations for the Event would not utilize public parking spaces.
Water Component
The water component would involve the display of approximately 175 vessels across Safe Harbor Sunroad docks. Approximately 45 temporary aluminum floating dock segments (10 feet x 20 feet (ft)) would be added between the dock aisles to create temporary docks. The floating docks would be secured to the existing marina with brackets and would not require an anchoring system or piles, so no bay-bottom disturbance would occur. Due to the temporary nature of the dock placement and no bay-bottom disturbance, no impacts to eelgrass are anticipated. Approximately three (3) to five (5) days prior to the show, existing vessels in Safe Harbor Sunroad docks being used for the event would be moved to other Safe Harbor Marinas in the area to create space for the show vessels. The floating dock segments would be delivered to the project site via trucks and offloaded with a long-reach forklift. The loading in/out of the floating dock segments would occur from the north-facing marina side of the Coasterra restaurant (Coasterra) parking lot (Attachment A), requiring the temporary use of approximately 10 parking spaces, and would involve using a long-reach forklift to lift the floating dock segments over the riprap and into the water during high tide. Once in the water, the floating dock segments would be connected to one another to create floating docks and pushed in place using a work boat. As stated, the floating docks would not require use of anchors or piling.
Public Access
Load In/Out (North end of Coasterra Parking Lot)
The sidewalk and approximately 10 parking spaces at the north end of Coasterra’s parking lot would be temporarily closed during load in/out operations of the floating docks. During the load in/out operations, pedestrians walking on the marina-facing sidewalk would be rerouted to the south-facing Bay side promenade. Signage would be posted throughout the project site at least 72 hours before the temporary closures, and barriers would be placed adjacent to the load in/out location for the safety of pedestrians. None of the ADA parking spaces in the Coasterra lot would be affected by the Event. Additionally, none of the free public parking on the south end of the Coasterra leasehold would be affected by the proposed project. The temporary sidewalk closures, temporary parking space closures and rerouting of pedestrians at the load in/out location would last for a total of approximately four (4) days, two (2) for load in and two (2) for load out of the floating docks. No staging of equipment would occur within the load in/out location.
Safe Harbor Sunroad Parking Lot
The southern perimeter of the Safe Harbor Sunroad eastern parking lot would be fenced off with barricades during and following the Event for a total of approximately five (5) days. The barricades would not impede or block any part of the sidewalk adjacent to Harbor Island Drive nor the promenade facing the San Diego Bay. During the Event, the marina-facing sidewalk to the east and west of the land component area would remain accessible to the public, however within the land component area, the sidewalk would only be accessible to Event attendees, with pedestrians being rerouted to the sidewalk south of the fenced off area. Signage to reroute pedestrians would be placed at least 72 hours before barricades are put up.
The 2025 SDIBS Event would involve a Right of Entry Permit (ROE) to SHM Sunroad, LLC to enter approximately 58,140 square feet of property located at 1500 W Palm Street (parking lot) in the city of San Diego, California. The ROE would allow SHM Sunroad, LLC and their authorized agent(s) and contractor(s) to use the parking lot for vehicle parking and ingress and egress for vehicle parking. It is anticipated that the ROE would have a total term of approximately one (1) week. The ROE may be terminated by District, or by SHM Sunroad, LLC as a matter of right and without cause at any time upon providing twenty-four (24) hours' written notice to the other party of such termination. No new development, construction, or increase in the size of the area is proposed or authorized as part of the ROE.
Contact Information
Name
Justin Huitema
Agency Name
San Diego Unified Port District
Job Title
Assistant Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Joshua Hester
Agency Name
SHM Sunroad
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
San Diego
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
955 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, California 92101
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Class 1), 15304 (Class 4) and 15311 (Class 11)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is determined to be Categorically Exempt pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) and 15311 (Accessory Structures) and Sections 3.a., 3.d.(6) and 3.i.(1)(5) of the District’s Guidelines for Compliance with CEQA because it would be for an annual boat show temporary event that would involve negligible expansion of use beyond that previously existing and would not result in a significant cumulative impact due to the continuation of the existing use, would result in no permanent effects on the environment, and would not involve the removal of mature, scenic trees. Sections 3.a., 3.d.(6) and 3.i.(1)(5) of the District’s CEQA Guidelines are as follows:
3.a. Existing Facilities (SG § 15301) (Class 1): Includes operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that previously existing.
AND/OR
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
3.i. Accessory Structures (SG § 15311) (Class 11): Includes construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing facilities, including:
(1) Construction or placement of minor mooring facilities, floats, buoys or similar structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial or institutional facilities
(5) Placement of temporary use items such as portable rest rooms
County Clerk
San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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