Residents Group Sues to Block Aquatics Complex

A Long Beach residents group filed suit on Wednesday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in an attempt to prevent construction of an oceanfront competitive aquatics complex.

The new aquatics complex is intended for the former site of the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool, which was demolished in 2013 when it was deemed unsafe in the event of an earthquake.

The working plan for the $103 million Belmont Beach and Aquatics Center consists of indoor and outdoor Olympic-sized pools, competitive diving platforms and therapeutic swim facilities.

These attributes would give the city of Long Beach the capability to host large-scale competition events such as the NCAA conference swimming and diving championships.

The opposing residents group, Citizens About Responsible Planning, is demanding that officials reassess an environmental impact report that was certified by the city council in May.

The group alleges that the certified EIR does not adequately evaluate the potential effects of rising sea levels on the beach or of new construction on residents’ ocean views.

The suit also claims that the proposed facility does not adhere to state Environmental Quality and Coastal acts, and that other site options were not given fair consideration.

According to the Press-Telegram, city officials have set aside $62 million in Tideland funds to assist in the construction of the facility. Private donations may cover the remaining costs.

Even if the city manages to raise the needed sum to cover construction and win the lawsuit, the project will still have to be approved by the California Coastal Commission.