Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Bay Tower Renovation
Summary
SCH Number
2025060152
Public Agency
San Diego Unified Port District
Document Title
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Bay Tower Renovation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/4/2025
Document Description
The proposed project would involve renovations at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Bay Tower (Bay Tower Project) by SSD Holdings, LLC, in the city of San Diego, California.
Project would involve interior renovations of approximately 237,695 square feet (sf) of an existing hotel facility, consisting of existing guest rooms, public areas such as lobbies, corridors, meeting spaces, ballrooms and restroom facilities, and the restaurant and club lounge. Exterior renovations would consist of like-for-like improvements to the porte-cochere, a new accessible path connecting the entry of the hotel to the public sidewalk east of the porte-cochere, and the refreshment of existing landscape areas. The proposed project would also include the rehabilitation of the existing pool and event lawn areas. Work to specifically complete the proposed project is outlined below:
Guest Rooms
Proposed guest room improvements would include interior renovations to approximately 348 existing bathrooms and sleeping areas, including replacement or improvement of:
• Showers;
• Doors;
• Lighting;
• Furnishings, fixtures, and finishes;
• Associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work;
• ADA and hearing-impaired fixtures in select rooms; and
• Balcony guardrail modifications for code compliance.
All interior improvements and renovations would remain within the footprint of the existing hotel rooms and would not result in the addition of guest rooms.
Public Areas
Proposed improvements to public areas such as:
• Corridors;
• Lobbies;
• Meeting spaces;
• Fitness area;
• Ballrooms; and
• Public restrooms
Proposed improvements would include replacement or improvement of:
• Lighting;
• Handrails;
• Flooring;
• Furnishings, fixtures, and finishes; and
• Associated audio/visual, electrical, and plumbing improvements
All interior improvements and renovations would remain within the footprint of the existing public areas and would not result in the addition of capacity.
Restaurant and Club Lounge
Proposed improvements to the restaurant and club lounge (excluding the kitchen) would include replacement or improvement of:
• Lighting;
• Handrails;
• Flooring;
• Furnishings, fixtures, and finishes; and
• Associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing improvements
Other renovations would include:
• Relocating the restaurant bar within the existing restaurant area to enhance bay views and overall guest experience;
• Incorporating an enhanced coffee grab-and-go option; and
• Reducing the overall interior space of the restaurant to accommodate an adjoining Bonvoy Club Lounge space.
All interior improvements and renovations would remain within the footprint of the existing restaurant and would not result in the addition of capacity of the restaurant space.
Hotel Entry and Porte-Cochere
Proposed improvements to the hotel entry and porte-cochere would include:
• Refreshment of existing finishes;
• Like-for-like replacement of existing lighting;
• Installation of new accessible path from the porte-cochere to the public sidewalk; and
• Removal and replacement of existing landscaping along the accessible path.
Additionally, the new accessibility path would result in the addition of two (2) new pedestrian curb ramps within the parking area. Drainage patterns and points of compliance would remain the same as the existing condition. Improvements would not result in impacts to parking spaces and would not result in the addition of capacity of the hotel facility.
Pool and Event Lawn
Proposed improvements to the pool and event lawn areas, which are located on the west side of the hotel, would consist of the following:
• New furniture, fixtures, and equipment;
• Refreshment of existing landscaping;
• Replacement of existing artificial turf;
• Replacement of existing fencing that would not exceed the existing fence height;
• Installation of new fencing along the north side of the event lawn that would not exceed the existing fence height;
• Replacement of light fixtures;
• Replacement of the existing pool snack structure;
o Replacement of existing 210 sf structure, with a new 260 sf structure in the same location
o Placement of new footings, without change to existing foundational pad
o Connection of plumbing to existing plumbing lines
• Application of new finishes to existing cabana structures;
• Resurfacing of the existing pool deck;
• Installation of a new ADA ramp connecting the event lawn and pool areas;
• Replacement of the existing wedding ceremony backdrop with one of the same size;
• Replacement of the existing arbor between the pool and event lawn areas with one of substantially the same shape and size;
The proposed scope of the pool and event lawn area improvements would not involve the expansion of the existing spaces or event capacity, and would be limited to the existing footprint.
The proposed renovations are anticipated to begin in Summer 2025 and would be carried out in two (2) phases over the course of approximately one (1) year. The first phase would consist of the proposed renovations and improvements to the pool and event lawn areas, which are anticipated to take approximately 12 weeks to complete. The second phase would consist of the remaining proposed interior and hotel entry renovations, which are anticipated to take approximately nine (9) months to complete. The estimated duration of construction is attributed to the limited number of construction crew members that are able to be onsite at any given time due to limited capacity in existing elevators.
The laydown area for the first phase of work would utilize approximately 34 parking spaces within the parking lot immediately south of the pool and event lawn areas. The laydown area for the second phase of work would utilize approximately 120 parking spaces within the leasehold. As the hotel would not be operable during this phase of work, it is not anticipated that use of hotel parking for laydown area would impact the surrounding inventory of public parking.
Due to its nature and limited scope, construction of the proposed project would generate a minor number of vehicle trips and would require limited use of equipment. Exterior improvements associated with the first phase of work are anticipated to require minimal use of a back-hoe tractor, and no other large or special equipment. Minimal truck trips associated with the removal of debris and transportation of materials are anticipated to be generated for this phase of work. Interior improvements associated with the second phase of work are anticipated to require use of box trucks, dump trucks, waste bin haulers, semi-trucks, and flatbed trucks associated with the removal of debris and transportation of materials. The April 2018 Technical Advisory on Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA (Advisory) prepared by the former State of California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, outlines how utilizing Vehicle Miles Travelled to evaluate transportation impacts under CEQA helps implement Senate Bill 32, a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction bill. The advisory asserts that projects that generate or attract fewer than 110 trips per day generally may be assumed to cause a less-than-significant transportation impact. As the project is anticipated to generate approximately 500 truck trips over the 9-month work period, or approximately 3-4 truck trips per day, it is not anticipated to cause a significant transportation impact. Furthermore, the hotel will not be in operation during the duration of construction, offsetting the increase in construction worker trips and truck trips with the substantial decrease of daily personal vehicle trips from hotel visitors and workers. Lastly, the proposed project would not result in a change in size, capacity, or operations of the hotel facility from that which is currently existing. Therefore, the Project would not result in impacts related to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and transportation and traffic.
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
Andrea Parisi
Agency Name
KSL Resorts
Job Title
Director
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Name
Juliette Orozco
Agency Name
San Diego Unified Port District
Job Title
Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
San Diego
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
1590 Harbor Island Drive
Zip
92101
Other Information
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Bay Tower
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1); 15302 (Class 2); 15303 (Class 3); 15304 (Class 4)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is determined to be Categorically Exempt pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction), 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), and 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) and Sections 3.a., 3.b., 3.c., and 3.d. of the District's Guidelines for Compliance with CEQA because it consists of interior and exterior renovations to an existing hotel facility that would involve no expansion of use beyond that previously existing, would not result in a significant cumulative impact due to the continuation of the existing use, would be located on the same sites and would have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structures replaced, would consist of the construction and location of new, small structures, would result in no permanent effects on the environment, and would not involve the removal of mature, scenic trees. The District has determined none of the six exceptions to the use of a categorical exemption apply to this project (CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2). Sections 3.a., 3.b., 3.c., and 3.d. of the District's CEQA Guidelines are as follows:
3.a. Existing Facilities: 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, including but not limited to:
(3) Interior and exterior remodeling or alterations, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that previously existing, including, but not limited to, marine terminal facilities, and marine-oriented commercial, industrial, and public and commercial recreational facilities, including buildings, piers, wharves, marine ways; railroads; airport facilities, runways, taxiways, aprons, and ancillary structures to those facilities; or mechanical systems and equipment.
(5) Minor exterior or interior alterations to incorporate architectural changes.
(12) Maintenance of existing landscaping, native growth, and water supply reservoirs.
AND/OR
3.b. Replacement or Reconstruction: Includes replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure being replaced.
(2) Replacement or reconstruction of marine terminal facilities, and marine- oriented commercial, industrial, and public and commercial recreational facilities, including buildings, piers, piles, wharves, marine ways; railroads; airport facilities, runways, taxiways, aprons, and ancillary structures to those facilities; electrical and mechanical systems and equipment; where the new structure will be on essentially the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced.
AND/OR
3.c. New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures: Includes construction of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and conversion of existing small structures from one use to another with minor modifications to the exterior of the structure. Examples of this exemption include:
(2) Accessory (appurtenant) structures and mechanical equipment including, but not limited to, garages, sheds, railway spur tracks, pilings, temporary trailers, industrial equipment, enclosures, fences, parking, on-site roadways, walkways and health and safety devices.
AND/OR
3.d. Minor Alterations to Land: Includes minor alterations in the condition of land, water and/or vegetation not involving removal of mature, scenic trees, including, but not limited to:
(5) New gardening or landscaping.
(7) Minor trenching and backfilling where the surface is restored.
County Clerk
San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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