The plan for Orange County’s first wave pool included not just a lagoon for surfing, but was a nearly 60,000-square-foot project with a restaurant and bar, surf academy, a wellness center, shops and athlete accommodations.
Now, the future of Newport Beach’s Snug Harbor Surf Park is uncertain.
The City Council on Tuesday night, Jan. 27, rescinded its unanimous approval for a general plan amendment that would have allowed for the nearly 60,000-square-foot project to replace part of the Newport Beach Golf Course — 15 holes would have remained. A petition filed against the general plan amendment gained enough signatures to call for the council to either rescind its earlier approval or put the question to voters on a ballot later this year.
The general plan amendment approved in October allowed for an increase in development space limits from 20,000 square feet to 59,772 square feet.
At the meeting on Tuesday, councilmembers voted 6-0, with Councilmember Noah Blom recusing himself, to rescind their earlier approval.
Councilmember Erik Weigand clarified with staff that a wave pool could still be built on the land, but at a smaller scale than previously envisioned, because it is considered an outdoor recreational use as allowed under current zoning.
“It’s simple, I think tonight we just rescind it,” he said at the meeting, noting there was no sense in spending city funds on an election.
The Orange County Registrar of Voters certified that the petition to force a public vote collected the required 6,118 valid signatures to place the matter on the ballot, according to the city.
It is unclear if the surf park operators still want to move forward with a smaller-scale project; the developer declined to comment.
Benny Hallock, volunteer chair of the Save Newport Beach Golf Course group, led the opposition against the wave pool, arguing that the golf course is a valuable part of the Newport Beach community and artificial waves are not needed just three miles from the coast.
“Wave pools are trendy, shiny objects that fail under financial reliability,” he said. “The technology is glitchy and unproven, even though I’ve heard this technology should be better than the others. Do you really want Newport Beach to be the guinea pig for that?”
While the group respects property rights, Hallock said, and acknowledges that the golf course needs revitalization, his hope is that a solution that keeps the golf course intact can be found.
“We want to work with you and the land owners to find a solution that makes them whole, while preserving and restoring our public golf course for future generations to enjoy here in Newport Beach,” he said.
The 55-year lease for two of the three parcels that make up the golf course – the third sits on county land – is up and it’s unknown whether the land owner would keep it as a golf course if the wave pool idea wipes out. It is also unclear if there are others wanting to lease the property for different purposes.
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The plan called for an estimated 700 daily visitors and 280 more visiting the restaurant on site. The proposal had a three-story, 50-foot-tall building for a surf academy, shop and restaurant, with a second floor for fitness and yoga, with locker rooms and a lounge, and a third floor dedicated to office space and a VIP music recording studio.
The basement would have golf cart and surfboard storage. Another 40-foot, 2-story building would have short-term accommodations for athletes with 20 rooms.
Mayor Lauren Kleiman called it a “very complex process from the beginning,” thanking both supporters and opponents who all had strong feelings. Her hope is the council’s decision will reduce further division in the community, she said.
Her job, she noted, is not to tell a private property owner what to do with their land, but to evaluate development proposals fairly under the rules.
“I do think it’s unfortunate that we are here,” she said. “I believe Newport has an opportunity to see a once-in-a-lifetime investment in an amenity for our community, yet I completely understand and appreciate the love for the golf course.”
The wave pool would be the first of its kind in Orange County, however several are in the works in the region. Palm Springs Surf Club is already making waves, while DSRT Surf in Palm Desert is under construction, as is another wave pool in Oceanside.
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