Senate Bill 958 Would Exempt Increased Building Height from CEQA Study of Redevelopment of Sports Arena Area
by Nicole Abrams / Times of San Diego / July 22, 2026
On July 16, members of the Peninsula Community Planning Board formally opposed a bill, which, if passed, would remove the 30-foot height limit in the Midway District and clear the way for a massive redevelopment of the Sports Arena.
The planning group’s opposition to Senate Bill 958 is spelled out in a letter to the state assembly.
If passed, the proposed legislation would prohibit increased building height from being considered a significant impact on the environment under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.
San Diego State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson introduced the bill in February after a successful legal challenge from residents over Midway Rising’s plans to bring over 4,000 housing units and a new sports arena to the Midway District.
“SB 958 is an important step toward addressing California’s ongoing housing crisis and ensuring communities across the state have the tools to create the housing Californians need,” Weber Pierson said in a statement to Times of San Diego.
Eric Law, the chairman of the Peninsula Community Planning Board, said he and other members support the redevelopment of the Sports Arena but not by dismantling the current height restrictions.
“Effectively, it makes possible the Miami Beach-ification of the entirety of the California coast,” Law said of the bill. “There’s no reason to have skyscrapers at the beach.”
The board’s letter, which is being sent to the assembly and the appropriations committee, says that SB 958 is “special interest legislation” that establishes a dangerous precedent for other developers to evade environmental protections requirements.
The letter also states that the bill creates flight safety concerns since Midway Rising would be near San Diego International Airport.
Law said he wants to have a meeting with legislators, community planning groups and the public to discuss SB 958 before the state legislature goes back in session on August 3.
“Someone who’s willing to carry a bill like that, which has substantial implications to their constituents, should show up to face their constituents on it,” board member Andrew Hollingworth said during the meeting.
A city spokesperson said in an email that the city is moving forward with finalizing the documents for the project.
“Once that process is complete, we can begin identifying potential dates for Committee and City Council consideration,” the spokesperson said.
Peninsula planning chair Law said that the board is taking a stand to preserve San Diego and make it a better place to live.
“We’re not gonna stop fighting for the people to retain their quality of life,” Law said.
Akilah Weber Pierson has thrown us under the bus. It’s a tossup as to which political party agenda is more dangerous to our communities and democracy. It’s beyond disappointing and this exemption will set the pattern for future oversized development Statewide.
Yeah, if you don’t count the local Dems or some on the state level, I would have to tremendously disagree. One party is pushing us into authoritarianism and the other is trying to save our democracy and the Constitution. Gee, hard to decide ….
Senator Akilah Weber Pierson
7575 Metropolitan Dr. Suite #100
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: (619) 688-6700 and the Sacramento Office- Phone: (916) 651-4039
Dear Senator Weber Pierson:
Have you visited the Sports Arena area during rush hour? Have you noticed the stop and go traffic from the on ramp to the 8? Are you aware that the fire station across the street on Kemper is one of the busiest and has to navigate through several congested intersections and roads. Do you know the 3 bus lines serving the area (8, 9, 35) are often late? Do you know the 9 serves likely up to 100 Sea World employees daily to and from Old Town Transit Center? Are you aware that Sports Arena Blvd. will be shrunk to 4 lanes to accommodate the following?— Total New Daily Trips: The local mobility analysis reports an increase of 22,514 daily car trips combining residential, commercial, and entertainment uses. On peak entertainment event days, up to 80,000 raw daily trips are calculated for the completed project site. Do you know that regional vehicle travel for the arena component alone is projected to increase by 839,145 miles per year? Can anyone estimate how many 30 second crosswalk lights will be used to cross SA Blvd to use the 8 & 9 bus to Old Town every hour?
I have yet to read a serious traffic study. I can predict what will happen. Bumper-to-bumper to get on the 8 curling back to Hancock St. Lines at the 3 nearby gas stations all day long. Waits at the EV station next to Arby’s and near Von’s. Slower emergency response times. More accidents. More pollution. A lower quality of life for the neighborhood.
And my last question… Did the right corporation and people involved with Midway Rising legally donate to your campaign or make the right promises?