SEASIDE LAGOON REHABILITATION PROJECT
The City of Redondo Beach is seeking input from the business community regarding the Seaside Lagoon Rehabilitation Project.
This is an important opportunity for local businesses to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas about the future of Seaside Lagoon and its impact on our business community.
We encourage our members to take the time to learn more about the project and provide their valuable input. Your voice matters, and community feedback can help shape the future of this important Redondo Beach destination.
HARBOR COMMISSION
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 – 6:30 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 415 DIAMOND ST.
https://redondo.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1440719&GUID=E71A6A79-16FC-4B68-8FF7-FA66F5DE38DC
SEASIDE LAGOON REHABILITATION PROJECT
L.1. WAVE POOL DESIGN CONCEPT AT THE SEASIDE LAGOON SITE -
PRESENTATION FROM ALLEN SANFORD
https://redondo.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8210932&GUID=732AAED1-D03A-4D6C-8AC0-AB4B63DEE413
1. Administrative Report, 2. Public Comment
Staff may post the PowerPoint presentation as a ‘Blue Folder’ item on Monday.
Administrative Report
https://redondo.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15851592&GUID=8A2ECA98-256F-4B88-9F9B-66A817D0621A
At the Harbor Commission Special Meeting held on August 25, 2026, the Commission voted 7-0 to agendize a presentation from Allen Sanford, owner of California Surf Club, on his proposed surf wave pool design concept at the current Seaside Lagoon site.
KING HARBOR ASSN. LETTER OPPOSING CURRENT LAGOON PLAN – JUN 16 – EXCERPT
We are writing to urge you to reconsider your recent decision regarding the Seaside Lagoon construction effort that you tentatively set in motion for 2027. We believe there is a better path forward than the one currently being forged. We urge you to invite the King Harbor Association into the fold, to empower our association and hold us accountable to what we are proposing.
EASY READER - KING HARBOR ASSOCIATION SUPPORTED PROPOSAL - AUG 20 - ATCH
The concept includes a second, smaller, beginner/instructional wave. Access to this smaller wave could potentially alternate between instructional use and general admission guests.
"The wave pool would have two “reefs,” one for experienced surfers, the other a beginner’s wave."
The article accurately recognizes that:
“Seaside Lagoon, in its current form, does not give children an opportunity to
learn about the ocean, about waves, currents, surfing or swimming in the ocean,”
Our understanding regarding whether a ‘traveling wave’ could be accommodated has evolved:
“The technology has gotten better, it takes up less space, it’s more accessible to more people.”
The concept would have more water surface area than the current Lagoon or the City's proposal.
The front-page photo features supporting local business owners from the King Harbor Association: Project Barley, Slip Bar & Eatery, R10 Social House, Riviera Mexican Cantina, Glass Bottom Boat, CA Surf Club, Quality Seafood, King Harbor Marina, RB Marina, Portofino Hotel & Marina, and the Redondo Beach Hotel.
Additional signatories to their letter include: Captain Kidd’s, Port Royal Marina, Shade Hotel, Crystal Cove Apartments, Cheesecake Factory, and the Riviera Village Association.
Ed: Some online detractors have mischaracterized these recommendations as being from ‘outside’ lobbying interests. That is clearly inaccurate, as the vast majority of these businesses are run by our local neighborhood entrepreneurs.
ALLEN SANFORD – SEP 12 – www.facebook.com/allen.sanford.12 - EXCERPT
To be clear, my intention is singular: force intellectual analysis of the current decision and force debate -- NOT push for the singular outcome of a surf pool. Let’s put our heads, intellects, hearts, and connections together and created something visionary!
Administrative Report – https://redondo.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15796895&GUID=AC866F95-22D7-4D19-B26D-5C87C6C7FDE4
Excerpts:
The city is proposing to replace aging infrastructure and address current water quality requirements.
The City Council in April 2026 directed staff to proceed with a reduced project scope that can be delivered with available funding.
The proposed project includes a new five-foot-deep recirculating recreational lagoon
The project requires Design Review approval by the City Council, which will be considered at a public hearing on September 15, 2026, followed by Coastal Development Permit review by the California Coastal Commission.
The City began planning for the rehabilitation of Seaside Lagoon in 2021 as part of the King Harbor
Public Amenities Plan. www.redondo.org/departments/waterfront_and_economic_development/harbor/index.php
A December 2023 community workshop specifically explored potential year-round amenities, including lap swimming and various wave-oriented concepts. Ed: ‘Wave oriented concepts’ were not explored in any detail.
The Harbor Commission considered the Seaside Lagoon project on September 9, 2024.
The Commission discussed the various design options, including the building placement, promenade configuration and the possibility and cost of a wave maker. The Commission ultimately voted 7-0 to recommend that the City Council pursue a complete renovation of Seaside Lagoon using a phased approach, with Building Placement Option 2 and Promenade Design Option 2.
Ed: A ‘wave maker’ was not discussed in any detail.
The Commission’s recommendation was for a complete, multi-phased renovation, recognizing that the City would need to construct the project in phases as funding became available. A staff report estimated the complete project at $31.1 million. The concept contemplated planned obtaining entitlements for the entire project while using the funding currently available to construct Phase 1.
On October 15, 2024, the City Council, in alignment with the Harbor Commission’s recommendation, directed staff to continue development of the “Design Option 2”.
2025-2026: Engineering and Regulatory Review
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health determined that the lap pool and recreational lagoon could not operate as the combined water feature contemplated in the 2024 concept. The two uses would need to be physically separated, with significant setbacks and fencing between them. Investigations identified a high groundwater table limiting feasible excavation depth. Excavation beyond approximately 3.5 feet would encounter groundwater. Going deeper introduces significant dewatering requirements and associated construction costs.
By 2026, the estimated cost for that Phase 1 configuration exceeded $16 million. The City had approximately $7.9 million remaining. Staff and NUVIS went back through the design and identified what could realistically be built with the funding available.
On April 21, 2026, the City Council considered the refined project concept and directed staff to proceed with entitlement processing for a reduced project scope that remains within the available funding, including completion of construction prior to the 2028 Olympic Games. Specific focus was to build the lagoon to a depth of five feet (achieved though increasing decking height).
The project is designed to improve the year-round functionality of the site, capable of accommodating passive recreation. Ed: However, active, water recreation would still NOT be year-round.
The existing seawater lagoon would be replaced with a new recirculating recreational lagoon utilizing a closed-loop filtration and treatment system, and a plaster-finished bottom. [non-heated freshwater] Removable fencing allows the lagoon to be secured when not in operation, maximizing public access.
The proposed improvements will transform Seaside Lagoon into a modern, year-round waterfront recreational destination. Ed: The lagoon water will not be year-round.
The proposed improvements modernize the existing Seaside Lagoon without expanding its recreational use or increasing visitor capacity. The project does not introduce new commercial uses or development that would increase parking demand. The project replaces and upgrades existing recreational facilities without increasing the intensity of use. The project maintains the existing recreational use. The improvements do not result in an expansion of its intensity of use.
REVIEW PROCESS - The proposed improvements require Design Review and Coastal Development Permit (CDP) entitlements. The project’s location in the harbor and public tidelands results in the California Coastal Commission (CCC) having permitting jurisdiction over the required CDP.
The Harbor Commission will review the project and make a recommendation to the City Council regarding approval of the Design Review Permit. Following the Harbor Commission’s review, the City Council will consider the application and make a decision on the project. Upon City approval, the project will be submitted to the CCC for review and approval of the required CDP.
Ed: There has been considerable confusion regarding this process. From the August 10, 2026 Liaisons Report of the Harbor Commission: “The Harbor Commission will be taking on the responsibility as the City approval/review authority for the project, and then the project will be reviewed by the Coastal Commission.” And from the Transcript: SO THE LAST MEETING I SAID THAT THIS COMMISSION WOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT THE DESIGN AGAIN. SO FOR THIS MEETING…THE HARBOR COMMISSION IS THE APPROVING BODY TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION FOR THE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
This report now purports to downgrade the Harbor Commission to a simple recommending body.
Edit notes by Mark Hansen, King Harbor Public Amenities Working Group
THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON, BY ZOOM, EMAIL OR eCOMMENT.
Harbor Commission meetings are broadcast live through Spectrum Cable, Channel 8, and Frontier Communications, Channel 41. Live streams and archives are available at www.Redondo.org/rbtv
WATCH LIVE ON CITY WEBSITE: https://redondo.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
*Click "In Progress" under Video.
WATCH LIVE ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/c/CityofRedondoBeachIT
JOIN ZOOM MEETING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://redondo.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_VFHCoxEQRCOZwx0AZ3HZDQ
You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
If participating by phone, provide your phone # when registering. You will be provided a Toll-Free number and a Meeting ID. Press # to bypass Participant ID. Attendees will be muted until the public participation period is opened. When you are called on to speak, press *6 to unmute your line.
Comments from the public are limited to 3 minutes per speaker.
eCOMMENTS MAY BE ENTERED DIRECTLY ON WEBSITE AGENDA PAGE: https://redondo.granicusideas.com/meetings
1) Public comments can be entered before and during the meeting.
2) Select a SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM to enter your comment;
3) Public will be prompted to Sign-Up to create a free personal account (one-time) and then comments may be added to each Agenda item of interest.
4) Comments (up to 2200 characters, equal to 3 minutes) will become part of the official record.
EMAIL: TO PARTICIPATE BY WRITTEN COMMUNICATION WITH ATTACHED DOCUMENTS: BEFORE 3:00 PM THE DAY OF MEETING: [email protected]
