SEAL BEACH : Major Main St. Make-Over Called Unnecessary in Report

When city and community leaders meet Wednesday to discuss the future of the downtown area known as Old Town, a report prepared by a consultant will encourage them not to tamper with the “delightful mix of architecture” on Main Street.

Main Street has long been plagued with parking problems and nearby residents want to limit the number of businesses that serve alcohol. While suggesting options ranging from installing parking meters to adding street lighting, the consulting firm is not recommending a complete make-over.

The City Council and Planning Commission will meet in council chambers at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to review a report prepared by Zucker Systems. The Costa Mesa engineering firm was hired to study parking, zoning, traffic and land-use issues on Main Street, to help city leaders create a new “Main Street Specific Plan.”

“We’d love to see a change in the mix of businesses,” Mayor George Brown said. “But we want to hold on to our identity. We really don’t want to try and make the buildings all uniform.”

A majority of residents surveyed as part of the consulting work said the area’s small-town atmosphere is what they like best about Main Street. When asked what they dislike most about the area, community members put businesses that sell alcohol, particularly bars, at the top of the list.

Residents also indicated they want more retail stores and fewer beauty parlors. But they are divided when it comes to a proposal to add another level to parking lots at the beach and on 8th Street. Survey respondents acknowledge the need for parking but fear that double-decker lots will block the ocean view and hurt the area’s small-town image.

Brown said the consultants’ report falls short on recommendations.

“We’ve known what our problems are for a long time,” he said. “I’m looking for more conclusions than they’ve given us in this report.”