Temporary Sign Installation at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina During 2025 Comic-Con

Summary

SCH Number
2025060574
Public Agency
San Diego Unified Port District
Document Title
Temporary Sign Installation at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina During 2025 Comic-Con
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/12/2025
Document Description
The proposed project would consist of the installation of temporary signage during Comic-Con International: San Diego (Comic-Con) by San Diego Marriott Marquis (Applicant) in the city of San Diego, California. Comic-Con is a national event centered at the San Diego Convention Center (Convention Center), which also includes activities throughout Tidelands and the City of San Diego, activating the region with a one-of-a-kind event and bringing hundreds of additional visitors to the area. Events and displays are held, without limitation, at the park adjacent to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront and Convention Center, the Gaslamp Quarter, and many of the surrounding hotels. The Applicant has historically erected temporary signage during Comic-Con. The proposed signage would be displayed solely during Comic-Con, for a total period of no more than one-month, with the option to change sign content up to one time during the one-month display period. No signage would be directed west towards the Bay and no illumination of the signage would occur. It is anticipated that the displays on the signage would include products sold and events held at Comic-Con or by the sponsors of the event. In this sense, the signage may be considered onsite signage as it would be advertising goods or services available at Comic-Con or by one of its sponsors. The proposed signage would be placed on the outer wall surface of the Applicant’s facility, as follows: • Southeast façade of the Marriott Marquis South Tower, facing the Convention Center, measuring approximately 35,970 square feet (sf) (327 feet (ft)-wide by 110-ft-high), approximately 150-ft-high from the bottom of the sign to street level • Northwest façade of the Marriott Marquis South Tower, facing East Harbor Drive, measuring approximately 12,400 sf (62-ft-wide by 200-ft-high), approximately 240-ft-high from the bottom of the sign to street level The following items are prohibited pursuant to the District’s standard approval and agreement for signage during Comic-Con and are not proposed as part of the project: (a) light shows; (b) electrical improvements to the signage, walls, or premises; and/or (c) illumination, including but not limited to, electronic, digital, or similarly illuminated components, of the signage, premises, or walls. The signage features, the temporary nature of the signage, the corresponding high-volume activation of the events and the urban nature of the surrounding area (i.e. the Convention Center, Petco Park, and downtown San Diego) would ensure that the signage would not create visual or aesthetic impacts. All works related to the proposed temporary signage, including installation, display, and removal, can only occur in the month of July 2025, closely corresponding with the duration of the Comic-Con event. The signage must be taken down and the facility returned to the same condition as it was prior to the installation of the signage no later than July 31, 2025. In no event would the signage be installed before and removed after the month of July. Both installation and removal would require the use of a boom lift.

Contact Information

Name
Karlee Hartman
Agency Name
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Job Title
Director of Event Management
Contact Types
Project Applicant

Name
Betsy Viramontes
Agency Name
Port of San Diego
Job Title
Assistant Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
San Diego
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
333 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, California 92101

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Accessory Structures (SG § 15311)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is determined to be Categorically Exempt pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15311 (Accessory Structures) and Section 3.i. of the District’s Guidelines for Compliance with CEQA because it is temporary signage that would be accessory to an existing facility. The proposed signage is on-premise signage because it is anticipated to display products sold and events held at Comic-Con or by sponsors of the event.
County Clerk
San Diego

Attachments

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