Pier Area Help

I would like to respectfully disagree with Geri Ortega, chairman of the Huntington Beach Planning Commission, and her opposition to the Pierside Village project (“Public Use of Prime Land Must Come Before Private,” Sept. 22). On the contrary, I look forward to this badly needed improvement to our pier area.

The commissioner labels the project “massive commercial building on the beachfront,” which is not a correct statement. As I understand the plans, the existing building, Maxwell’s Restaurant, would be replaced with a new structure. I say “amen” to that because it should have been torn down years ago. As high school kids, we attended Saturday night dances there more than 50 years ago, and it wasn’t much of a structure then.

The other property to contain the “massive” Pierside Village is the asphalt parking lot that adjoins Maxwell’s. I would think that a few appropriate shops and some pleasant eating places would add, rather than detract, from the public’s enjoyment of the area. I know that for the past 11 years that we have lived in Huntington Beach we have wished for just such an environment to share with our out-of-town friends.

The commissioner and a few others don’t want any downtown redevelopment and especially don’t want any change in “beachfront” usage. To quote her: “Much of the sandy beach and bluff top was paved over for parking and concessions; restrooms and showers were added.”

What’s that? I wonder who she thinks benefits from these improvements? One last comment about the Save Our Parks group mentioned by the commissioner. They advocate amending the city charter so that the voters would decide each time any time public land is to be leased or sold for a project.

I would ask: Why then have an elected city government? Why not get really democratic and let the voters directly decide every issue that concerns the city of Huntington Beach? Let’s get real!

CHARLES R. WALKER, Huntington Beach