SEAL BEACH : Restaurant Loses Bid to Extend Hours

Ending months of discord that some fear has divided the community, the City Council this week rejected a Main Street restaurant’s request to remain open an extra hour each weeknight.

The 4-1 decision, made Monday at a packed council meeting, marked a sweet victory for residents who have long complained that some Main Street bars and restaurants cause noise and traffic problems.

The vote amounted to a defeat not just for the owner of the Seaside Grill but for other Main Street merchants who pushed hard for the extended hours. It is also bound to provide new ammunition for some merchants who criticize the city for what they claim is a lack of support for local businesses.

The issue of alcohol sales on Main Street dominated the last two council meetings and has emerged as one of the city’s biggest controversies.

In December, the Planning Commission voted 3 to 2 to extend hours for the Seaside Grill, which serves alcohol.

But a resident appealed the decision, leaving it up to the City Council to make a final ruling.

For the four council members who opposed the extended hours, the issue boiled down to preventing Main Street from becoming overrun with alcohol-selling establishments, they said.

Allowing the Seaside Grill to stay open until 11 p.m. would set a precedent for other bars and restaurants seeking to extend hours and expand services, the council majority said.

“I believe there can be a domino effect,” said Councilwoman Marilyn Bruce Hastings.

Other council members expressed fear that Main Street could take on a “bar-hopping environment” if establishments are allowed to remain open well into the night.

“I don’t want Seal Beach to be the type of city where people say, ‘Let’s go to the city of Seal Beach because they have a row of bars and we can have a good time,’ ” said Mayor Gwen Forsythe.

The lone council member to support the request, William J. Doane, said granting the extra hour would not degrade Main Street.

“This is a good place with good food, nice people . . . and a family-type atmosphere,” he said. “I see no reason in the world to reverse a good decision made by the Planning Commission.”

Doane also took aim at some people in the city for being “petty” and “negative” about local businesses at a time when merchants need support. “We need to join together as a community and support business,” he said. “There’s no reason to see more businesses on Main Street go broke.”

The attorney for Seaside Grill owner Ron Sesler said he was surprised and disappointed by decision.

“One hour (per night) would not have made any difference. They admitted that,” said attorney Rey L. Ochoa. “I don’t feel that fear of other businesses (requesting added hours) is enough to deny” Sesler’s request.

Several council members said they hoped that the bruising fight will not cause a permanent rift between merchants and residents. Yet, some key issues still separate the sides.

Residents complain that their neighborhoods are sometimes clogged with cars because there is not enough parking for Main Street businesses. Some residents have also reported being kept up late at night by loud patrons.

Merchants said they need latitude in setting hours and services, in part because of the recession, which has hurt sales.