SEAL BEACH : Council to Decide on Pizzeria Plan

In a decision being closely watched by both Old Town residents and merchants, the City Council is to act tonight on a plan to bring a trendy pizzeria to Main Street. The vote comes two months after the Planning Commission rejected the Bichsel Co.’s proposal to open a branch of B.J.’s Chicago Pizzeria in a 65-year-old brick building.

Residents who live near Main Street criticized the plan for not offering enough parking spaces for customers.

The restaurant is required under city codes to provide 26 spaces. But since the property has only three spaces, the company proposes to make up for the shortage by paying the city $100 a year for each of the 23 missing spaces.

Residents said the plan is ineffective because the city doesn’t plan to spend the money to build new parking lots. They fear that pizzeria customers will, as a result, end up parking in the residential neighborhood off Main Street.

Bichsel Co. officials defended their proposal, noting that the building has housed restaurants for decades and that it is unfair for the city to suddenly require them to provide extra parking spaces.

Bichsel plans to restore the building’s brick facade and complete seismic repairs if the council approves its plans.