Marblehead yacht club to expand

MARBLEHEAD – Snow or no snow, Eastern Yacht Club is expanding its party potential.Formed in 1870, the 47 Foster St. club boasts of being “one of the most distinguished yacht clubs in America” and despite Wednesday evening’s predicted snowfall and the absence of club Manager Jeffrey Wargo, attending a club manager’s seminar in California, the club’s public hearing went on as scheduled before the selectmen.Club Secretary Robert McCann and Treasurer Douglas Emond sought permission to extend the clubhouse premises to cover lawn parties under a tent this summer.They also got the selectmen’s approval for a seasonal all-alcoholic beverage liquor license at the club’s fenced-in Olympic-sized swimming pool facility across the street, at 44 Foster St. Since the facility is across the street from the clubhouse, a separate license is required.McCann estimated that the club would hold “a half-dozen” tent parties a year. He pointed out that the club renovated the 50-year-old pool building last year to make it larger and more extensive, and would be holding cookouts there two nights a week.That clubhouse already contains three dining rooms, a clubroom, a living room, a porch overlooking the harbor and several guest rooms on a five-acre site.The club also owns six tennis courts, two paddle tennis courts and the Eastern pier, pier house, gangway and dock.Selectman Judy Jacobi expressed concern about an Eastern neighbor, however – the Pleon Yacht Club next to the swimming pool. The Pleon is for children and teens.McCann suggested that selectmen specifically restrict the seasonal license so that it only applied to the fenced-in area and ban any extension to the Pleon property.With that wording added to the license selectmen unanimously supported it. The vote was 3-0 with Jacobi joined by Selectmen Chairman Jackie Belf-Becker and Selectman James Nye.