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Letter to the editor

2 issues, 2 different outcomes

By MIKE DONILA, Times Staff Writer
Published January 19, 2008

The owner of a motel asked the council to help prevent visitors from sitting on a BeachWalk "seat wall" behind it. The city declined but granted his other request.
	[Bill Serne | Times]

When seven downtown business owners and employees asked the City Council to help them, the members agreed. But when one beach motel owner asked, he was told, "Let's wait and see." Council members, though, say this isn't a case of strength in numbers, but rather a case of two distinct issues - one involving BeachWalk, the other Cleveland Street - that just happened to occur at the same meeting Thursday.

Cleveland Street

The request: Business owners along the newly revitalized Cleveland Street asked the city to loosen its strict sign ordinance and allow them to put sandwich board signs on the sidewalks.

The rationale: The owners said the signs announce to visitors that they are open and increase foot traffic through their doors.

Council decision: It agreed to let downtown business owners work with city planners to create an ordinance allowing sandwich boards downtown for one year on a trial basis. Such signs could be up within the month. If the experiment is problem-free, officials may expand the ordinance to include the whole city.

The reaction: Ian "Doc" Shillington, who owns the Rabbit Hole health food cafe on Cleveland Street, said he was "very, very pleased" with the decision. "It's definitely a step in the right direction," said Shillington, who, along with his wife, presented the council this week with a petition signed by 27 other business owners who also championed the plan.

BeachWalk

The request: Martin Cole asked the council to find a way to prevent visitors from sitting on a low masonry "seat wall," part of the $30-million BeachWalk promenade that runs behind his Red Roof Inn. He also wanted the city to plant two palm trees - not five - near the south gateway plaza, also behind his four-story building.

The rationale: Cole worried that the seating would create a gathering place for people who may be noisy or cause problems for his guests. He also felt the trees would block the views from some rooms.

Council decision: It agreed to plant only two trees but declined to do anything about the seating. Members said that if problems arise once the project is finished, they will revisit the plan and increase law enforcement.

The reaction: Cole, who has long supported the BeachWalk project, said he was happy with the decision. "I might not have got everything I initially wanted, but the main thing is that they are taking action on the trees, and that will help out the property. I'm more than happy to give them the benefit of the doubt (on the seating) and hope there won't be a problem."

By MIKE DONILA, Times Staff Writer

[Last modified January 18, 2008, 21:17:12]