Tennis Club Sale Subject of Meeting

City officials will meet with residents Thursday night to discuss the imminent sale of the Bixby Ranch Co.’s Old Ranch Tennis Club to the Marriott Corp., a move expected to result in the demolition of the popular club.

Described by concerned residents as the tip of the iceberg for development, Marriott planners envision a three-or four-story senior citizen care facility on the seven-acre tennis club located in College Park East. To be known as Brighton Gardens, the facility is expected to house 90 to 120 seniors requiring assisted living and 40 requiring skilled nursing.

Despite residents’ fears that the sale has already been consummated, Wayne Sant, Marriott’s director of real estate, said an agreement with Bixby is pending but hasn’t yet been signed.

Lee Whittenberg, the city’s director of development services, said that before beginning the project in Seal Beach, Marriott will be required to file for a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission. A public hearing on the matter will also be required.

“I have not had anything submitted to me at all,” Whittenberg said.

Arden “Ace” Yeam, a member of the neighborhood’s Citizens Against Commercial Development committee, said that while the proposed senior care facility is “as good a neighbor as we can get,” he regrets the potential loss of the tennis club and the possibility of future development, particularly commercial.

“This is the tip of the iceberg and the first of a series of things,” Yeam said. “One of these days, [Bixby] will make a deal with somebody that will generate traffic, crime and all the things that come with development.”

Thursday’s meeting will be held in the council chambers at City Hall, 211 8th St., at 7 p.m. Information: (310) 431-2527.