Fellow Langley Club Members,

For the past year, your board has been diligently investigating options for modernizing our facilities – pool, diving well, tennis and pickleball courts, clubhouse, parking lot, etc. While we do not have all the answers at present, we think we have a sufficient understanding of potential options, challenges, cost estimates, financing, timelines, and overall process to begin a broader discussion with the full membership and solicit your inputs. This email, which is admittedly much longer than our standard messages, is intended to be the first of many communications between the board and general membership on this subject.  Please read it carefully.

While we are all very proud of the Langley Club, it has begun to show its 68 years. The condition of the clubhouse, bathrooms, and pool is well below the standard set by neighboring pools. Regrettably, the baby pool and diving well are no longer compliant with county mandates and must be replaced; although, we currently benefit from being “grandfathered” into compliance. Regardless, that administrative reprieve does not negate the fact that major upgrades are needed – and needed now for the safety of all members. Unfortunately, while we benefit from the grandfather designation, any attempt to remedy individual issues sequentially is not acceptable to the county. Once we initiate any upgrade to the infrastructure, we lose all previous grandfathering. As a consequence, we are left with a simple binary choice – accept the pool as is, or engage in a complete renovation all-at-once at a cost of millions-of-dollars. These are the facts that have driven us to engage in a robust conceptual planning effort to determine what is in the realm of the possible for a complete modernization of the pool. This planning effort is not an attempt to “keep up with the neighbors;” but rather, an attempt to provide you, our members, with the best and safest facilities and experience possible.

In the near future, you will receive an invitation to attend a townhall for members to discuss the plans below. Nothing proposed below has been acted upon by the board, and no actions will be taken without the consent of the majority of our members. This is for information purposes only at this point.

Based on the efforts of board members, we think it is possible to engage in a renovation that would result in –

1) a new 25-meter, 8-lane heated lap pool with waveless edges as an option, dive well, slide, and baby pool/splash pad

2) a full replacement of the pool deck and filtration systems

3) a ~4,000 SF ADA-compliant clubhouse with expanded restrooms / shower facilities, snack bar, kitchen, lounge, and meeting space

4) recreation upgrades that will result in 4 pickleball courts (with potential basketball overlay), 2 tennis courts, shaded pavilions, and upgraded lighting; and

5) improved parking (up to 83 permanent + 10 interim spaces).

Based on multiple contractor bids and consultant input, the projected investment would include:

• $285,000 for architectural support, engineering, permits, and inspections.
• Approximately $4.2M:
  • Pools and decking: ~$1.2M
  • Clubhouse and site work: ~$2.0M
  • Contingency (10%): ~$397,000
  • Insurance, fees, taxes, and contractor overhead: ~$150,000
• Total Projected Budget: ~$4.37M

This is clearly a significant sum, and currently well-beyond our existing resources without additional member support. However, we have engaged with several local banks, and have been provided with several workable ways-ahead. In any option we choose, two things must happen: 1) our post-renovation membership must increase from our current 305 members to approximately 450 members; and, 2) our post-renovation dues must increase to approximately $1500 per family, which is the norm for the recently renovated pools in the McLean area.  If satisfied, numbers 2 and 3 above would be sufficient to service any debt / financing.

However, before progressing, we must fund “the design phase,” which we estimate to cost approximately $285,000. With member approval, we will apply the funds secured from the road-construction agreement but will still require additional support. To fund the design phase in total, we would request the current membership (Full Members only, not Emeritus) provide a one-time non-refundable payment of $550, which would close the gap between existing resources and the necessary total. Families willing and capable of providing more are welcome to do so, but each family would be required to provide $550 – if approved via member vote.

We understand that some may be asking themselves – What happens to all the money from annual dues and rentals? That is a great question.  Over the past eight years, we have spent $383,208 on pool maintenance, tennis maintenance, and general club maintenance.  Thankfully, we have only had a handful of major issues in the past few years, but when they happen – they are costly.  As you may have noticed, the costs referenced above are all for maintenance, and do not include the costs for operations, which are significant as well. If any members have any questions about these costs, then please let me know.

In addition, we continue to work on ideas on how best to monetize the results of any potential renovation to include seeking one of the local swim clubs to rent the pool year-round during off-hours for their practices, renting the new clubhouse space, etc. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this as well.

As a reminder, the board is prohibited from spending more than $25,000 without the approval of the members secured by vote at a duly noticed meeting.

If the majority of members vote to approve this effort, then the projected timeline could be as follows:

• Now – Sept. 2025: Finalize scope, financing strategy, and member vote.
• Sept. 2025 – July 2026: Site plan, design drawings, and permit acquisition.
• Sept. 2026 – May 2027: Demolition and full construction; reopening by Memorial Day 2027.

We are confident that this information has created a mixture of excitement and anxiety, and hundreds of questions. As noted above, we will host no fewer than two townhalls to explain our plans and thinking and give members an opportunity to engage and ask questions. The first townhall will be on Monday 21 July at 7:00pm at the club pavilion. In addition, we will be sending out a short survey in the next few days to solicit your inputs. Also, the Club Renovation Committee will be available for Q&A on July 1st (4:30-6:00pm), July 3rd (7:00-8:30pm), July 15th (7:00-8:30pm) and July 17th (4:30-6:00pm). These Q&A meetings will be held in front of the Baby pool shed, where we will post two large prints of potential designs. At the end of these discussions, per our club bylaws, I will call a special meeting of our members to vote on approving or disapproving of the design phase, to include the one-time $550 fee per family. Based on the outcome of that vote, I will communicate to the membership as to the way ahead – if there is one.

This renovation is not just a capital project—it is a strategic investment in Langley’s future. The improved facilities will revitalize the Club’s role in the community, enhance member experience, and ensure sustainability for decades to come. While I and the other board members think this is best for the pool, no action will be taken without your express approval and continued feedback throughout the process. If, as consequence of member feedback, the majority of members communicate a lack of support for this effort, then it will be terminated with no questions asked. Just as I have attempted with this email, I promise to remain fully transparent with the entire membership throughout this entire process and discuss, regardless of where it leads or what the membership decides.

Thank you for your time and attention.

I look forward to discussing this with all of you in the weeks to come.

The Langley Board

Martin Knook