SEAL BEACH : Home’s Dome Demolition Looms in 2 Weeks

The countdown is on for the demolition of the notorious 30-foot metal dome on top of a Marina Hill house.

Four years after its construction, and 14 months after the City Council ordered the dome removed, city officials recently told homeowners Mark and Elizabeth Thompson that the demolition of their observatory dome must begin by Nov. 14. They have until the end of this week to submit revised plans for the top of their Sandpiper Drive home.

After complaining for years, next-door neighbor Jerry Andersen said he’ll believe it when he sees it.

“I’m certainly not going to go out and celebrate yet,” Andersen said.

Andersen began his campaign against the dome in 1990, when it was in the planning stage. An anti-dome petition he circulated was signed by 200 residents. But the dome was constructed with approval from the city Planning Department. In August, 1993, the City Council voted to make the Thompsons remove the dome, saying that it had been misrepresented to city officials and was in violation of zoning laws.

The Thompsons, owners of Grandma’s Ice Cream in Seal Beach, could not be reached for comment. Lee Whittenberg, city director of development services, said the Thompsons have been cooperating with city officials, and he sees no need for legal action.

City Planner Barry Curtis said the Thompsons were told last week to remove telescopes and other equipment from the observatory and not to live in the dome area. He said their new plans call for replacing the dome with a pitch roof.

“It will match the rest of the house,” Curtis said. “The dome has to be removed and construction must be started by the end of next week.”