Planning Board Delays Decision on Beach Hotel

The Santa Monica Planning Commission last week heard more than three hours of public testimony on a proposed luxury hotel and community center on state-owned beachfront property, then postponed its decision on the project until later this week.

The commission is scheduled to decide on the proposal by restaurateur Michael McCarty on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council, which is expected to make the final decision late next month. The project must also receive state Coastal Commission approval.

The four-story, 160-room hotel proposed for the site of the private Sand and Sea Club at 415 Pacific Coast Highway would also include a community center with meeting rooms, public lockers and showers, a children’s play area, and an arts and environment center.

The project would provide the city with a minimum of $1 million annually for the city beach fund, which is used to maintain the beach. The project would also provide about $1.9 million annually in taxes to the city’s general fund.

McCarty is proposing that part of the hotel’s annual bed tax, estimated at $1.6 million, go to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.