Planning Commission Sets Stage for Shorter Beach Hours

By Teresa Rochester

January 7, 2000 --So much for gymnastics by moonlight, or chess by moonlight, for that matter.The city's Planning Commission voted 5 to 0 Wednesday night to expand the city's park designation area to include 13.5 acres of Santa Monica State Beach and Ocean Front Walk, which encompasses the Chess Park and Muscle Beach.

If approved by the City Council, a zone change could mean park neighbors will hear the sweet sound of silence coming from the popular stretch of beach which abuts several apartment buildings and hotels. The designation would allow the city to close the area from 11p.m. to 6a.m. daily.

Before implementing any hours of operation the city needs to get approval from the Coastal Commission, which regulates access to the state's beaches.

The 13.5 acres are part of the city's multi-million dollar Beach Improvement Group Project, which revamped Santa Monica's beachfront. Historic muscle beach was built up with new equipment and new chess tables were installed at the Chess Park.

Nearby residents feared the popular area would attract people well after dark. The Chess Park, which abuts two apartment buildings, and Muscle Beach are not equipped with lighting, according to a staff report.

If the area is designated as a park, the zoning will be in line with its actual use. Final approval for the designated park area will be made by the City Council once it is approved by the Coastal Commission.

In a separate measure, the commission vote 5 to 0 to deny an appeal of a proposed two-story mixed used building at 1230 Montana Avenue. The appeal, filed by the Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition, sought cosmetic changes to the building, which will replace the old mausoleum on the trendy, upscale strip.