San Diego’s bayfront makeover just took a big swing toward reality, with the Port of San Diego releasing a draft environmental impact report for a proposed East Harbor Island overhaul that would swap out off-airport parking and rental-car lots for a public waterfront park and an entertainment district anchored by Topgolf. The public has until Aug. 24 to weigh in, and port staff say those comments will shape a Final EIR and any needed Port Master Plan amendment before the project circles back to the Board of Port Commissioners.
Where to read the draft and how to comment
According to NBC 7 San Diego, the draft EIR is posted online and can also be reviewed in person at the Port’s Office of the District Clerk and at the San Diego Central Library. NBC 7 also reports that written comments may be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the Port. Feedback received by 5 PM on Aug. 24 will be considered part of the Final EIR.
What the proposal would build
Project materials from the Port outline a roughly 43-acre redevelopment area. The concept includes a 10.1-acre public waterfront park with a 20-foot-wide promenade and a mix of active uses, along with a 16.5-acre entertainment district. About 9.8 acres of that district are identified for a multi-story Topgolf facility. The plan also calls for realigning Liberator Way and adding new public parking, sidewalks, planting buffers and intersection changes.
Local debate and past coverage
Not everyone is sold on putting a Topgolf on Harbor Island. City commissioners and waterfront advocates have previously questioned whether the venue is the right fit and have pushed port staff to provide more detail on traffic, parking and community benefits before any lease moves forward, KGTV/10News reported. Earlier coverage of the East Harbor Island plan from Hoodline placed the Topgolf concept within the Port’s broader effort to expand public access and bring new amenities to the bayfront.
Next steps and timeline
Port staff say they will use the Draft EIR comments to prepare a Final EIR, with both that document and any related Port Master Plan Amendment expected to reach the Board of Port Commissioners in late 2026. The Port also plans to take an option-to-lease agreement for the Topgolf piece of the project to the board for consideration. At this stage, no lease or construction approvals are final.
Regulatory review and issues to watch
The project is being processed under CEQA, and the state’s CEQA database lists a wide range of environmental topics slated for review, including biological resources, coastal zone effects, noise, traffic and water quality. The CEQA record also identifies several state reviewing agencies that could weigh in during the process, underscoring that the draft report is just one stop on a longer, multi-agency review path.
