SEAL BEACH : Demolition of Dome Expected to Begin

Demolition of a controversial 30-foot observatory dome is supposed to begin today, work that the City Council ordered more than a year ago.

The city had been assured that the dome would be removed by last week, but homeowner Mark Thompson blamed the delay on a conflict in his contractor’s schedule.

The city filed a lawsuit on Nov. 28 in Orange County Superior Court against Mark and Elizabeth Thompson, seeking demolition of the metal dome built on top of their Sandpiper Drive home in 1990. After years of protests from surrounding neighbors, the City Council decided in August, 1993, that the dome violated height and zoning regulations and had to be removed within a year.

Thompson said it was unreasonable for the city to require the demolition of a structure that had been approved by the city Planning Commission. And he said opposition from neighbors has been hard on his family.

“It’s been a source of frustration and anguish for us during the last four years,” Thompson said.

Although a petition was signed by 200 residents several years ago opposing structures over 25 feet tall, Thompson said it did not mention his observatory dome specifically.

“There are only about three people who have vociferously objected to it,” he said.

Next-door neighbor Jerry Andersen said all of the homeowners near Andersen’s house object to the dome.

“Nobody would want to live under this thing,” Andersen said. “He doesn’t have to please me, but he does have to obey the law.”