Redondo Beach

The City Council approved plans for a park project at Mole B at King Harbor by a 4-1 vote this week.

Plans for the project--designed by the architectural firm Eberting International, with modifications from the Harbor Review Board and the Recreation and Parks Commission--include a park with walkways, a multipurpose building, a Harbor Patrol building and 52 parking spaces on the 1.75-acre site.

Development of Mole B as a park and recreational facility is one of the requirements that must be met before a coastal permit is issued for the proposed Inn at King Harbor.

Members of two outrigger canoe clubs, which share facilities at Mole B, expressed their concern over the future storage of their canoes on the premises. Policy on allocation of boat storage space will, however, be determined later.

Mayor Barbara Doerr and Councilman Jerry Goddard, opponents in the mayoral race this March, argued over the issue before voting to approve the park plan.

“This has been ramrodded through to accommodate Mr. Guthrie’s needs,” Doerr said, referring to developer Les Guthrie, whose Marina Cove firm seeks to build the Inn at King Harbor. Goddard described approval of the plan as “an opportunity to take a step forward.” Both charged the other with acting as a road block to development of Mole B in the past.

Councilman Ray Amys, casting the only negative vote, said the proposal was “not well planned.” His motion to table the issue for 30 days was rejected by a 4-1 vote.