Dozens gather to protest hotel project in Huntington Beach neighborhood
Huntington Beach residents gathered in the parking lot of Hilltop Liquor on Tuesday night to voice their concerns about a proposal to build a 142-room hotel near where they were standing, citing a possible loss of privacy, among other issues.
More than 100 people showed up, many trying to grab a seat in a large tent set up outside Surf City Tacos, a business at 815 Indianapolis Ave. that also factors into the project.
The proposal calls for construction on the northwest corner of Beach Boulevard and Indianapolis Avenue of Hotel Indigo, a Hilltop Market to replace Hilltop Liquor and other new commercial buildings, as well as a rebuilt Surf City Tacos, according to project planning consultant Michael Adams.
The project would occupy about 1.5 acres, according to Adams, some of which is zoned residential. The developers, Bill Jejour and his son Justin, own the property and its buildings.
In November, resident and hotel opponent Ron Sterud started a petition drive on change.org that has gathered more than 1,500 signatures.
Sterud, who lives near the site, said previously that a hotel would be “inappropriate for the area.” He said that since part of the lot is zoned residential, rezoning would be required.
On Tuesday, residents took turns posing comments and questions to the developers.
With the city already in the midst of a debate over high-density construction, speakers expressed concerns about the hotel potentially bringing unwanted traffic, partiers and trash to the neighborhood.
Resident Brandon Brown said he was discouraged by the speed and type of development in the city. He said that while he wants to support the Jarjour family, he would prefer that single-family homes be built on the property rather than a hotel.
Brown called for the audience to “unite” to come up with a better plan for the area, which is heavily residential.
Resident Bob Fitzgerald echoed Brown’s words.
“We should benefit from your project, and I don’t see anybody here that would benefit,” he told Bill Jarjour.
Some residents said they feared that hotel guests could look into their homes and backyards from their rooms, but Jarjour said the hotel, at 35 feet tall, wouldn’t be any higher than a three-story home.
He also said the businesses that currently occupy the lot are old and in need of renovation.
“We have to rebuild this block; everything is 70 years old,” Jarjour said. “Let us build you guys something that you like.”
The developer said after the gathering that the information gleaned from the meeting will be helpful.
“People are passionate about this town and so are we; we respect that,” he said.
After the meeting, resident Mark Ellett said he understood Jarjour’s position despite being against the hotel.
“I believe in private property rights and development, but I think it needs to be sensible,” Ellett said. “This isn’t the site for a hotel. The immediate neighbors will suffer.”
As a real estate veteran, Ellett said he’s been involved in similar public outreach while working on development projects and he believes the Jarjours will work with the public because “they have been invested here.”
Adams said the ideas shared will be discussed and another meeting set for a later date.
Twitter: @benbrazilpilot
