Court Reinstates Coastal Commission's Decision on San Diego Harbor Island Project

Lori Weisberg reports on a recent appellate court decision on a case involving the California Coastal Commission and the Port of San Diego. “In a ruling issued [earlier this month], a state appeals court reversed an earlier Superior Court decision that the Coastal Commission had wrongly rejected plans to develop up to 500 hotel rooms on East Harbor Island, including a 175-room hotel sought by Sunroad Enterprises,” says Weisberg.

The Coastal Commission had first denied the amendment to the port master plan in 2015 because it did not include the provision of lower-cost overnight accommodations on Harbor Island. The port fought this decision, and the Superior Court ultimately ruled in the port’s favor. However, the more recent appeals ruling overturns this lower court decision.

The fate of another Sunroad Enterprises project, a 500-room hotel on East Harbor Island, is now unclear. In addition, a separate court case related to the commission’s second denial of the amendment last year is set to be heard later this month.