Westside : PIER DEVELOPMENT

A 699-seat restaurant and nightclub proposed for the Santa Monica Pier won the final go-ahead Tuesday after the Santa Monica City Council rejected an appeal by residents and the police officers association that claimed that the eatery would create noise, traffic and public safety problems.

In a 4-2 vote, the council approved a redesigned project that took into account some of the concerns raised by the opponents, Citizens for a Safe Santa Monica, and the Santa Monica Police Officers Assn. Last month, the developer revamped the project to more fully enclose the performance stage and other areas, reduce outdoor patio space and improve crowd control.

While the redesign solved many of the union’s complaints, Sgt. Steve Brackett, president of the group, said the problem is cumulative development on the historic pier. The 16,350-square-foot restaurant and nightclub is just one of the new developments slated to open this year. Others include an 11-ride amusement park, an aquarium and at least one more nightclub.