Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS : Pierside Village Clears Hurdle : CITIES

Despite protests by local residents, the $2.7-million beachfront commercial development beside the Huntington Beach Pier cleared its last governmental hurdle last week, getting the green light from the California Coastal Commission.

The project, Pierside Village, includes 60 retail shops, three major restaurants and a three-level parking structure extending from the pier six blocks to Lake Street along the beach. The city’s Redevelopment Agency is a partner in the development.

City officials said the project is the first step in renovating the city’s aging downtown, and Mayor Jack Kelly praised the commission’s approval as a “milestone.”