Planning Commission approves project that could nearly double size of Long Beach Yacht Club
The club is looking to add a two-story, 20,179-square-foot addition to the existing clubhouse, which will also be renovated during the project.
The Long Beach Planning Commission approved a project Thursday night that could nearly double the size of the Long Beach Yacht Club as its operators seek to modernize the private club in Alamitos Bay.
The 1,000-member club located at the southern end of Appian Way currently meets at a clubhouse that is about 22,000 square feet but the club is seeking to remodel the existing structure and add a new two-story addition that would be 20,179 square feet.
The resulting structure would be about 41,400 square feet when completed.
Included in the new addition would be a second-story pool lobby, a roof deck, a multipurpose room, new classrooms and a 53-foot bar. There would also be various improvements to the existing clubhouse to make it ADA-compliant, according to plans submitted to the city.
Alex Cherin, a lobbyist representing the club, said that included in the improvements will be a dedicated community room that nonprofits and other groups can use for functions.
Commissioners approved the project unanimously but their vote won’t be the final hurdle to getting the project approved. Because of its location in the coastal zone, the project will need to be approved by the California Coastal Commission, which will have the authority to make changes to the proposed project.
Supporters of the expansion said the project was long overdue and praised the yacht club as an economic driver for the city and a critical gathering place for the aquatics community in Long Beach.
Bob Lane, president of the Naples Island Business Association, said that the club is a valued member of the community that “graciously opens its doors” to community events and brings revenue to local establishments.
“Their world-class sailing events bring business to our restaurants, not only to Naples but to the surrounding communities,” Lane said.
Because the expansion of the club will allow it to host more people, one of the conditions of approval from the city is that the yacht club implement an offset program for guests traveling to the site.
The proposed transportation program submitted alongside the project calls for the use of incentives for members using personal boats, bike share and electric scooters to minimize the number of vehicle trips to the club. It could also see more golf cart parking stalls created as well as a designated area for ride-share services to pick up and drop off members.
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