SAN CLEMENTE : Avenida Victoria Loading Zone Altered

Responding to complaints from businesses, the City Council has extended by 20 feet an on-street loading zone on the west side of Avenida Victoria in the Pier Bowl.

Several merchants in the 600 block of Avenida Victoria had asked for the change, saying that large delivery trucks often blocked their storefronts from the view of motorists and pedestrians.

The council also unanimously agreed at its meeting Wednesday to limit commercial loading and unloading on the east side of the street to between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. The street serves as a route to downtown and the city’s popular pier.

Owners of a pizza parlor and yogurt shop on the east side of Avenida Victoria had requested the new time restriction. Loading and unloading had been permitted in front of the two businesses from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Council members said they were happy to make changes that would benefit businesses and not congest traffic. The city’s Planning Commission gave approval in March.