BBC

• Next step: Appeal hearing in front of California Coastal Commission - scheduled for Thursday, October 12 via teleconference. Once we have a time, we will post it.

• Appeals sent to California Coastal Commission by deadline of August 14.

• Planning Commission appeal hearing occurred July 20 - appeal was denied.

• Zoning Administrator (ZA) hearing occurred May 8 - application was approved.

• ZA Hearing was continued from April 24.

• First Belmont Shore applicant to reach hearing stage.

Key Points:

• Coastal Commission explicitly denied this plan in 1992-1997.

• Expanded outdoor dining area prevents access to and views of the beach, violating Coastal Act.

• Music brought by patrons to outdoor dining area disrupts neighbors' quallity of life.

• 24/7 truck deliveries block pedestrian and bicycle path to beach. 

• Loud delivery noises disturb residents (lift gates being unceremoniously dropped, loading ramps being dragged, equipment being offloaded, containers and supplies being dragged across sidewalks and surfaces, pallets being dropped, pallet dollies being dragged across concrete, trash cans being dragged across plaza, bottles and cans being thrown into dumpsters, etc.). 

• Neither staff nor management intervenes to mitigate these harsh disturbances to residents across the plaza.

• Outdoor dining patio and string lights obstruct emergency vehicles from beach and residences.

• Noise and light pollution in Plaza negatively impact full-time resident nesting and roosting birds -- Black-crown Night Herons and Great Blue Herons -- hindering breeding and contributing to death. 

• At April 24 hearing, BBC owner balked at conditions of use proposed by administrator:

  • Said he cannot stop people from standing next to outdoor dining.

  • Said he won't encourage public transit plan for employees to ease traffic and parking issues.

• Proposed Condition of Use would require BBC to allow the public to use outdoor dining space without purchase. This is an essential condition in line with the city's original intention for all parklets.

• Loss of public bike racks in Plaza resulted in patrons locking bikes to BBC patio, obstructing beach access.

• BBC calls this a "dog patio." Dog noise directly harms neighboring residents.

• The California Coastal Commission is focused on beach accessibility, beach visibility and beach impacts. Your emailed comments should emphasize how giving up dozens of public parking spaces for bars and restaurants will harm residents' and visitors' ability to reach and enjoy the beach areas. (Think: two spaces AND more restaurant/bar parklet patrons AND more parklet staff, THUS more cars!)

Send your email comments to the California Coastal Commission now. 

The appeal hearing date is TBD.