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Committee recommends renewal of Westin Hotel skybridge permit; council vote set for Jan. 20
Summary
The STEPS committee voted 5–0 to recommend passage of a council bill renewing the Westin Hotel's term permit for a pedestrian skybridge across Virginia Street for 15 years; SDOT said the hotel's public benefit included maintenance of a nearby giant sequoia and accessibility functions.
The STEPS committee recommended passage of a council bill to renew a term permit for the Westin Hotel pedestrian skybridge that spans Virginia Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.
Clerk and SDOT staff described the item as a standard renewal of a long‑standing structure-in-right‑of‑way permit; the ordinance would grant a 15‑year term renewable for a second 15‑year term and specifies insurance, bonding and inspection obligations.
Amy Gray of SDOT summarized the public‑benefit package tied to the renewal, including maintenance work on a nearby giant sequoia in the traffic island (removing holiday lighting, improving soil conditions and replacing an irrigation system) and ongoing obligations to ensure public safety under the permit. Gray said the Westin ‘‘removed the holiday lighting and improved the soil conditions, replaced the irrigation system’’ to stabilize the tree.
Councilmember Kettle and others noted that the skybridge provides accessible passage for people with mobility limitations. After brief committee discussion the chair moved and the motion was seconded; the clerk called the roll and the committee recorded five votes in favor, zero opposed. The recommendation to pass council bill (read in the hearing as 1 2 1 0 2 2) will go to the Jan. 20, 2026 city council meeting.
Outcome: Committee recommendation to pass (5–0). No amendments were recorded in committee.
