The water park plans to begin the $50 million expansion by September if city leaders approve its amended plan, which incorporates changes required by the state Coastal Commission. SeaWorld officials say the expansion is necessary to compete with other Southern California theme parks.

SeaWorld wants to redo the theme park's entrance, build a 95-foot-tall splashdown ride a three-story educational facility and a special-events center. Long-term plans call for a hotel and marina and a parking structure.

Critics of the redevelopment plan are concerned that SeaWorld will build view-blocking structures and continue nightly summer fireworks shows and other activities that they say are incompatible with surrounding neighborhoods.