Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting – January 27, 2026

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission met on January 27, 2026, at 1:30 PM to conduct routine business, approve a site-preparation project for the Magnolia Coast development, and, after extensive public testimony, approve a major remodel of the Huntington Club tennis facilities including construction of member-only bungalows. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes from the November 20, 2025, and December 9, 2025, Planning Commission meetings.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda public comments: None.
• Magnolia Coast: No public speakers.
• Huntington Club Remodel: 17 speakers registered. The majority (club members and nearby residents) opposed the introduction of overnight lodging (bungalows/lofts) and the removal of four tennis courts. Opponents submitted a petition containing over 680 signatures. Key concerns included:
  • Inconsistency with Open Space Recreation (OSR) zoning and the city's General Plan.
  • Inappropriate use of a Class 32 CEQA infill exemption for conversion of recreational space to lodging.
  • Loss of three lighted tennis courts, reducing evening and tournament capacity.
  • Potential precedent for other private clubs to add lodging.
  • Safety issues from a new road cutting through tennis/pickleball courts.
  • Disparity between club members being allowed short-term rentals while adjacent homeowners are restricted by municipal code 5.120.
  • Questions about whether the claimed $500,000 annual city revenue is realistic and whether the bungalows would be offered to non-members through reciprocal club networks (e.g., Palmer Advantage).
• Several speakers supported the project, citing the need to upgrade aging facilities (40-year-old clubhouse and pool) and noting that similar lodging exists at prestigious private clubs like Augusta National. The applicant and property owner stated the bungalows are essential to fund the improvements and would be restricted to Huntington Club members and their guests.

Discussion Items

• Code of Ethics Review: Annual presentation by staff; no action taken.
• Election of Chair and Vice Chair (2026): Commissioner Brett Bush was nominated and elected Chair, and Commissioner Ken Babineau was elected Vice Chair, based on seniority per Planning Commission bylaws. Motion carried unanimously.
• Advisory Board and Committee Assignments: Commissioners opted to retain their previous committee assignments for 2026.
• Magnolia Coast (Tentative Tract Map 19331, Conditional Use Permit 25-005, Coastal Development Permit 25-003): Staff presented plans to subdivide the 29‑acre former Magnolia tank farm into seven letter lots (open space, private street) and five numbered lots (medium-density residential), and one lot for commercial/visitor use. The project includes importing approximately 133,000–425,000 cubic yards of soil to raise the site by about four feet to address future sea‑level rise, and constructing a retaining wall (10 ft plus a 7 ft block wall) along the north property line to act as a barrier against contamination from the adjacent Ascon site. No public speakers. Commissioners confirmed that the project implements previously approved entitlements (Specific Plan SP18, General Plan amendment, EIR #17001). Unanimously approved.
• Huntington Club Remodel (Conditional Use Permit 22-011, Coastal Development Permit 22-009): Staff presented a proposal to demolish the existing 6,231 sq ft tennis clubhouse (built ~40 years ago) and construct a new 12,446 sq ft two‑story clubhouse (height 30 ft 8 in), a junior Olympic-size pool and spa, and four detached bungalows (883–1,865 sq ft) plus two loft units in the clubhouse (3,036 and 1,173 sq ft) for short‑term accommodation limited to club members and their guests. Three existing tennis courts (all lighted) will be removed; the remaining 10 courts (six of which are restricted to daytime use due to lighting conditions) and eight pickleball courts will stay. Parking will increase from 33 to 66 spaces. The project was recommended for approval by the Design Review Board. The public hearing featured extensive testimony. The commission added two conditions before voting:
  1. The applicant shall work with staff to pursue lighting of additional tennis courts through the entitlement plan amendment process, subject to neighborhood compatibility and new lighting technology.
  2. Bungalow and loft use shall be explicitly limited to Huntington Club members and their guests only – no reciprocal club access. The motion to approve with these conditions carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Magnolia Coast – Approved (unanimous). The Commission action is final unless appealed to the City Council within 10 days.
• Huntington Club Remodel – Approved (unanimous) with two added conditions (lighting study, member-only bungalow restriction). Final unless appealed.
• Consent Calendar – Minutes approved.
• Next Meeting – No items scheduled for February 10, 2026; a cancellation notice will be posted.
• Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at approximately [no specific time given].