The Region : Jonathan Club in Appeal

The Jonathan Club has asked the state Coastal Commission to reconsider a decision to require the club to adopt a non-discriminatory membership policy before it can expand its Santa Monica beachfront facility. The club allegedly discriminates against Jews, women and minorities in its membership policy. Two weeks ago, the coastal panel granted the club a permit to expand the facility by 13,664 square feet but voted to require the non-discrimination pledge, because the club is leasing approximately 58,000 square feet of state property. In a letter to the commission’s executive director, club attorney John R. Shiner said the panel had exceeded its authority and denied the club “a fair hearing.” In order to qualify for reconsideration, according to commission staff member Nancy Cave, the club has to demonstrate that there was an error in fact or law in the commission’s decision or that there is new information that could not be presented at the time of the public hearing.