On April 26, 2000, Destination Resorts International submitted the initial applications for development of a hotel and golf course resort that encompassed the Long Point property (the former Marineland property at 6610 PVDS) and the City’s Upper Pt. Vicente property.  After a Draft EIR was prepared and circulated to the public, public hearings on the merits of the project applications by the Planning Commission began on April 10, 2001 and concluded on October 9, 2001. The Planning Commission forwarded a recommendation to the City Council for approval of 5 golf holes and an 8.2-acre passive/active recreational area on the City’s Upper Pt. Vicente property and 4 golf holes, a golf practice facility and resort hotel on the Long Point site. On October 16, 2001, the City Council voted unanimously to deny the use of the City’s Pt. Vicente property for the proposed project. At the applicant’s request, on November 7, 2001, the City Council agreed to place the public hearings on hold until May 7, 2002 to allow the applicant time to consider their options.

On April 22, 2002, the developer formally submitted a revised project to the Planning Department for consideration. The revised project no longer included the Upper Point Vicente property and was modified to a resort hotel with a golf academy and driving range amenity. On May 7, 2002, the City Council held a joint meeting with the Planning Commission and Finance Advisory Committee, during which the Developer presented the revised project site plan for the Resort. At that time, the Council unanimously agreed to keep the discussion of the proposed project applications at the Council level, rather than remanding the project back to the Planning Commission or Finance Advisory Committee and certified the project EIR. As such, the City Council conducted public hearings on the revised project on June 18, July 16, August 6, and August 28, 2002. Concurrently, the Planning Commission considered the applicant’s request for a Variance to allow the construction of a hotel swimming pool and public beach facility in the City’s Coastal Setback Zone at its July 23, 2002 meeting and recommended approval of said lower pool facility.

On August 28, 2002, the City Council approved the following project, with 205 conditions of approval:

- A 400-room resort hotel (bungalows included) with a golf academy/practice facility (3 golf holes)
- 50 casitas (a maximum of 3 keys per unit)
- 32 single keyed villa units
- conference center, golf club house, a spa, related commercial uses, restaurants, public trails and park areas, coastal access points, 100 public parking spaces, natural open space and habitat areas.

The City Council’s decision was appealed to the California Coastal Commission and the appeal hearing occurred on June 11, 2003. The Coastal Commission denied the appeal, thereby approving the project with special conditions, essentially approving the same project approved by the City Council. Formal adoption of the conditions of approval by the Coastal Commission occurred on August 7, 2003. On October 7, 2003, the City Council formally accepted the modifications made by the Coastal Commission and the additional conditions of approval.

On May 17, 2005, the City Council approved a number of minor changes to the hotel design and layout determining that the changes were all in substantial conformance with the City’s final 2003 approval. In addition, on March 21, 2006, the City Council approved a change to project’s golf amenity, allowing a 9-hole short game golf course to replace a 3-hole practice facility.  Furthermore, on December 5, 2006, the City Council approved minor modifications to grading, building ridgeline elevations, buildings and hotel operations and accepted an updated site plan and grading plan based on the revised project plans. To view the revised site plan click here. The California Coastal Commission has also approved all of these changes.
The demolition of the remaining buildings and infrastructure from the former Marineland development occurred in the Summer of 2006 and the complete clearing of the site began in February 2007.  The grading permit was issued on May 31, 2007 and grading of the site is currently underway.  Construction of the project is expected to take a couple of years to complete. It is expected that the hotel will be open and operational by May 2009.     

The City’s project planner overseeing the Long Point Project is Principal Planner Ara Mihranian. He may be contacted at (310) 544-5228or via email at aram@rpv.com. Long Point Development LLC may be contacted at 310-802-7400.

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