A Sept. 17 meeting at the Rogers Middle School Auditorium drew homeowners and environmental activists from the city's eastern sector, signaling opposition to the proposed plans for a new pool facility.

A city staff prepared Power Point presentation (linked below) indicates the proposed concept results from three meetings (July-August 2013) of a 13-member "Stakeholders Advisory Committee." (The 13 advisory committee members are listed on page 15 of the Power Point presentation linked below.)

To view the city staff Power Point presentation (which includes graphics of the proposed design), click here.

"Stakeholder Committee Recommended Design" (90,480 sq. ft)
Image source: City staff Sept. 17 Power Point

Terence Endersen, the recently re-elected president of the Belmont Shore Residents Association, said he has concerns about the lack of identified parking -- considering much of it will be taken up by other activities, including volleyball and dog beach visitors.

"It's not an empty lot, the way it used to be," he said, adding that s nearby lot at the pier is also busy with visitors.

Environmental activists are raising concerns about the potential removal of the tall trees lining the current parking area along Ocean Boulevard. The site provides nesting for protected species.

Others cautioned that the pool area needs to remain open to all members of the public.

Deputy City Manager Tom Modica couldn't be reached for comment Thursday (Sept. 18.)

In February 2013, Long Beach officials announced that the Belmont Plaza Pool would be permanently shuttered because of structural safety problems.

The pool was temporarily closed Jan. 10, 2013, after a draft structural and seismic evaluation indicated the facility was seismically unsafe in the event of a moderate earthquake. Officials closed the pool, located south of Ocean Boulevard at the end of Termino Avenue in Belmont Shore, while city engineers reviewed the analysis and inspected the facility to confirm the extent of its structural safety.

Long Beach's building official and city engineer "have reviewed the final report and determined the Belmont Pool Natatorium, in its current condition, is a substandard building that is seismically and structurally unsafe," city officials said in a statement.

Since then, city planners have been advocating construction of a new permanent facility that "balances recreational and competitive swimming needs."

The proposed facility would include a natatorium in the approximate location of the existing Belmont Pool, and a new outdoor pool immediately north of the existing facility.

Officials said the proposed facility will be able to host all competitive swim and water polo events that currently take place there, while adding water space.

Originally, the new pool would cost an estimated $54 million to $62 million, depending on added features, and construction would take two to three years to complete, officials said. That figure has mushroomed to $99 million (not including banquet hall for an additional $3 million) with options to add seating bringing the cost to $105.7 for up to 1,500 additional indoor seats. [Source; Power Point presentation, pp. 27-28]