Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel Renovation

Summary

SCH Number
2025101141
Public Agency
San Diego Unified Port District
Document Title
Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel Renovation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/23/2025
Document Description
The proposed project would involve renovations at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel by One Park Boulevard, LLC, in the city of San Diego, California. The proposed project would involve interior and exterior renovations of an existing hotel facility. Interior renovations would consist of improvements to existing guest rooms, common areas such as lobbies, meeting spaces, ballrooms, restroom facilities, and the bar and club lounge. Exterior renovations would consist of improvements to the pool area, porte-cochere, outdoor bar and the refreshment of existing landscape areas. Work to specifically complete the proposed project is outlined below: Guestrooms Proposed guestroom improvements would include interior renovations to approximately 1190 existing guestrooms, including replacement or improvement of: • Furnishing, fixtures, and equipment; • Showers; • Doors; • Lighting; • Furnishings, fixtures, and finishes; and • Associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. 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. Common Areas Proposed improvements to common areas including but not limited to: • Corridors; • Meeting Spaces; • Lobbies; • Ballrooms; and • Public Restrooms. Proposed improvements would include replacement or improvement of: • Lighting; • Flooring; • Wall finishing; and • Associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. All interior improvements and renovations would remain within the footprint of the existing common areas and would not result in the addition of capacity. Registration Area and Lobby and Corridor Proposed improvements to the registration area, lobby and corridor would include: • Lighting; • Flooring; and • Furniture, fixtures and finishes. All interior improvements and renovations would remain within the footprint of the existing area and would not result in the addition of capacity of the space. Bar Lounge Proposed improvements to the bar would include replacement or improvement of: • Lighting; • Furniture, fixtures and finishes; and • Associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing improvements. Other renovations would include: • Installation of new Nano-Wall style doors leading to the outdoor patio space. All interior improvements and renovations would remain within the footprint of the existing bar and would not result in the addition of capacity of the bar space. Club Lounge Proposed improvements to the club lounge would include replacement or improvement of: • Lighting; • Flooring; • Furnishings, fixtures, and finishes; and • Associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing improvements. All interior improvements and renovations would remain within the footprint of the existing club lounge and would not result in the addition of capacity of the club lounge space. Hotel Entry and Porte-Cochere Proposed improvements to the hotel entry and the porte-cochere would include: • Lighting, and • Furnishings, fixtures, and finishes. Additionally, adjacent to the Porte-Cochere, outdoor seating would be installed to enhance the existing arrival space. Improvements would not result in the addition of capacity to the hotel facility. Pool Area/Deck Proposed improvements to the pool and lawn areas, which are located on the southwest side of the hotel, would consist of the following: • Furniture, fixtures, and equipment; • Refreshment of existing landscaping; • Remodel of existing kids play area; • Replacement of cabana structures; • Replacement of light fixtures; • Infill of one (1) existing spa; • Landscape improvements; • Associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing improvements; and • Demolition and relocation of existing bar area of substantially the same size, and associated finishes. 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 Winter 2025 and would be carried out in two (2) phases over the course of approximately two (2) years. The first phase would consist of the proposed renovations and improvements to the pool and event lawn areas, as well as the initial work on the meeting space areas and guestrooms, which are anticipated to take approximately two (2) months. The second phase would consist of the remaining meeting space areas and guestrooms and other proposed interior and hotel entry renovations. The laydown area for the first and second phase of work would utilize approximately 40 parking spaces within the leasehold, which are not currently used for guest parking and are not anticipated to impact the availability of public parking. Renovation work would not restrict public access at the site at any time. Construction crews would utilize nearby ACE lots for parking and incorporate carpooling to reduce vehicle trips. 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 and interior improvements associated with the first phase of work are anticipated to require minimal use of a bobcat, dump truck, scissor lifts jackhammers associated with the removal of debris and transportation of materials, 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 scissor lifts and no other large or special equipment. 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 a maximum use of 40 vehicles or 80 vehicle trips per day, or approximately 1 truck trip per week, it is not anticipated to cause a significant transportation impact. 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, 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
Robert Springer
Agency Name
Sunstone, LLC
Job Title
Senior Vice President
Contact Types
Project Applicant

Name
Betsy
Agency Name
San Diego Unified Port District
Job Title
Planner I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
San Diego
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
1 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Class 1), 15302 (Class 2), 15303 (Class 3) and15304 (Class 4)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is determined to be Categorically Exempt pursuant to the CEQA Guideline Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction), and 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) and 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) and the Sections 3.a., 3.b., 3.c., and 3.d. of the District’s Guidelines for Compliance with CEQA because it would consist of interior and exterior renovation 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.
County Clerk
San Diego

Attachments

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