Public Will Get Look at Main Street Plan

A new plan to preserve the small-town atmosphere of the city’s picturesque Main Street will get its first public review Monday.

Council members say they are trying to balance the concerns of downtown business owners and residents in the updated Main Street Specific Plan. After council members review the proposal, they will seek public comment.

“It’s very difficult to get a consensus between the business association and the people who live close to the business district,” Councilman George Brown said. “They have different goals.”

Residents have long complained about summer and weekend parking problems in the Main Street area near the municipal pier.

Earlier this month, the council approved a yearlong experiment to replace fixed parking fees in beach area lots with variable rates. City officials said they hope the lower rates will attract more visitors to the lots and ease residential parking.

Brown proposes putting parking meters on Main Street, which he says could boost city revenue. But he acknowledges that merchants fear the meters would keep customers away.

The council also recently approved regulations allowing businesses to use banners for limited periods.

Mayor Gwen Forsythe said the primary goal of the Main Street plan is to preserve the identity of the city.

“Most developers are a little wary of Seal Beach because we don’t want the two-story high-rise buildings on Main Street,” Forsythe said. “We want something that’s more family-oriented. It’s an asset that we want to protect.”