Theme Park Expansion Foes Hassle Officials

SAN DIEGO-In the latest hearing on SeaWorld’s proposed expansion, city officials added conditions to the project, while foes heckled a top official for the theme park.SeaWorld General Manager Dennis Burks tried to answer questions about the project from a council member, but was shouted down by project opponents.

The theme park and Anheuser-Busch, its parent company, have worked for three years on the approval process for the project to add new rides and other attractions to the theme park.

Burks said the park’s income has remained flat while expenses keep going up, and needs the expansion to increase revenue. The city also wants SeaWorld to set aside land and help pay for construction at the themepark of a transit station.

The council also included a provision in the SeaWorld master plan requiring any future project over 30 feet in height to go before the planning commission and the council.

Burks said the theme park is frustrated at all the added conditions after the company has spent $2 million so far during the approval process. “We may as well not have created a master plan,” he said.

The council Tuesday also restricted SeaWorld’s rights to build a hotel on the property, saying it has to be built within 10 years.