Snug Harbor Surf Park proposal get first look from Newport Beach Planning Commission ...Middle East

More details emerged for a wave park proposal in Newport Beach during a recent Planning Commission study session.

A slideshow presentation by the project developer gave city officials a look at the proposal for the Snug Harbor Surf Park, which would be built on the center portion of the Newport Beach Golf Course, near the Back Bay and just a few miles from the beach.

In coming months, the project will go through various public hearings, but the meeting on Thursday was aimed at giving planning commissioners and the public a look at the overall project and a chance to give feedback for moving forward.

The project would not only have a 5-acre surfing lagoon, but also a 50,341-square-foot, three-story clubhouse with a surf academy, fitness facility, restaurant and surf shop, as well as a storage area for golf carts, said Shawna Schaffner, CEO of CAA Planning, presenting on behalf of the developer Back Bay Barrells LLC.

A two-story athlete accommodations building would have 20 rooms, while two parking lots would have 351 spaces, with a valet program that would allow for 411 vehicles to be parked, she said.

A surf park operations overview showed a maximum of 72 surfers in the water at a time, with an average of 42.

Surfers would be able to pick their experience level and wave direction, and coaching would be available. There would also be a lifeguard tower and an average of eight lifeguards set around the lagoon, with an expected 25 second response time, Schaffner said.

The surf park would use an online reservation system, based on hourly time slots, and be open to the public for surfing and viewing, Schaffner said.

Schaffner showed a video rendition of the project, taking a tour through the northern portion of the golf course near Irvine Avenue, then into the clubhouse. The video then showed the lagoons as surfers rode waves, showing where people could hang out at a coffee shop or restaurant and bar area to watch the action in the water.

The proposed plan would use Wavegarden Cove technology, which can generate up to 1,000 waves per hour.

Schaffner talked about the technology, which has created “cutting-edge, world-class, wave-generating systems and surf lagoons.”

Nine wave pools use the technology on four continents, 10 more are under construction and dozens are in development, Schaffner said. The te

An environmental impact report for the project was released a few weeks ago and public comments are due by July 7. Developers hope to get approvals later this summer and be open by spring 2028.

Golf would remain a part of the footprint, with portions of the existing course to the north of Irvine Avenue (holes 10-18) and south of Mesa Drive (holes 3-8)  remaining, and a golf cart path connecting the holes, according to the environmental report.

The project proposal includes parking for golfers and a starter shack for the course.

Planning Commissioner Jon Langford recused himself from the discussion, noting that the property is located on land owned by his employer.

Planning Commissioner Chair Mark Rosene wondered if more information could be added to include what kind of waves would be produced by Wavegarden.

“In the future, bring that up and make that determination, so we know what it is,” he said. “I think that will be helpful, especially as it relates to a variety of environmental issues that could come up.”

He also wondered if the bar would use an existing liquor license on site.

Commissioner Lee Lowrey complimented the aesthetics of the plan.

Resident Mike Smith spoke at the meeting, noting that the golf prices are the best around, especially at the driving range that is expected to go away due to the project.

“The community who wants to play golf for a decent price is going to be completely obliterated by this,” he said.

He also asked they include the cost for the surfing amenity, and detail whether it will be membership based.

Resident Treb Heining lives “a golf shot away” from the project, the place he learned to play and where he still uses the driving range as a warm-up.

He is worried about parties that may be held in the area when rented out, he said. “There’s going to be some noise there they are glossing over.”

He also questioned just how successful a wave pool would be just a short distance from the ocean.

“If you’re a good golfer, you can probably hit a ball to the beach from that golf course,” he said. “We have surfing, we have surf classes, we have all that here. I’ve worked all around the country, this is something that Wichita, Kansas, would love. I don’t understand why we need to have that.”

Resident Benny Hallock has created a campaign called “Save Newport Beach Golf Course” in his effort to keep the golf course intact.

“I am a concerned member of the community, I grew up golfing there,” said Hallock, who hosts a Memorial Day fundraiser each year for veterans and first responders. “It’s an everyday man’s, everyday woman’s golf course.”

There will be a hearing on the Snug Harbor project at the Airport Land Use Commission in July, followed by a meeting in August at the Planning Commission, before going before the City Council in September.

See more on the project at newportbeachca.gov.

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