Third Time the Charm for Beach Club Plans?

Architects are again tasked with tweaking their concept plans for the Ole Hanson Beach Club renovation, what officials hope will be the final iteration in the stalled project.

Tuesday marked the the third round of discussion of the project in open meetings during which council members and the public grilled city staffers and architects on the minutiae of the proposed floor plan options, the project budget and how construction would be scheduled and split up into phases.

The city council Tuesday settled on one proposed floor plan, making one tweak to the architects' concept design. The council, at the suggestion of Mayor Bob Baker, mandated in a 4-0 vote with Lori Donchak abstaining to make the lobby and open atrium with windowed double doors opening out onto the pool deck directly across from the front entrance facing Boca de la Playa.

The first phase of the project will bring the building up to code -- including adding an elevator to satisfy the Americans with Disabilities Act -- and rejigger the floor plan to accommodate future improvements.

As it stands now, the budget is $2.5 million for the first phase, with a second phase in five years that would cost $1.2 million.

The second phase would include a complete pool rehab, kitchen upgrades, aesthetic finish and exterior renovations, and a roof replacement.

Council members also asked for more detailed cost estimates on how much it would cost to add an entire new roof, pool and kitchen to the first phase, which would prevent the club's closing a second time.

Other proposed projects could be done as stand-alone improvements, such as cutting out the ocean-facing pool deck wall to allow views, rehabbing the kitchen to better accommodate caterers, adding an ocean-view terrace below the pool deck or rehabbing the small pool-facing balcony, staffers said.

The plan will come back for final approval the second meeting in May. Architect will then draw up specific plans for contractors to start the work.

At the last meeting concerning the club, cost estimates ballooned with requests from council members and the public to explore a myriad of different options not suggested by architects, but the council reined in expectations Tuesday.

They apologized to architects and staff for letting the discussion "get away from us a little bit," as Councilman Chris Hamm put it.

Read more on Patch:

• Council Hires Architect for Ole Hanson Beach Club Rehab Contract
• Beach Club Renovation to Cost $3.7 Million
• Beach Club Plan Back to Drawing Board