The California Coastal Commission staff has recommended a "denial" for the $520 million request to expand the San Diego Convention Center.
In a report released Friday, the staff cites that the proposed expansion would "result in significant impacts to views, visual quality and coastal recreation through the substantial loss of already limited waterfront area and open space."
The current proposal will now go before the 12-member Coastal Commission during an Oct. 10 meeting.
The proposed expansion would result in a Convention Center that has 2.75 million square feet of contiguous floor space.
Supporters say the expansion is vital to keeping San Diego's iconic Comic-Con convention in the city. They also claim the current convention is currently missing out on an estimated 25 major gatherings a year due to its limited floor space.
Interim San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, a supporter of the project, is hopeful the expansion plan in development since 2008 will continue.
"I’m optimistic they will support our request," Gloria said in a press release. "We will continue to work to address the issues raised by Coastal Commission staff.”
