Seal Beach Parking Meter Plan Idled

“Mayberry-by-the-Sea” may keep its monopoly on small-town charm a little longer.

Seal Beach, the last coastal city in Orange County without on-street parking meters, approved a plan in September to install 301 meters along Main Street, a tree- and bench-lined strip that residents liken to Andy Griffith’s fictional home.

But last week, the California Coastal Commission sent the city a letter that put the plan on hold.

“They said they needed additional information for our application to be complete,” said Lee Whittenberg, the city’s director of development services.

The commission requested an updated report on Seal Beach’s parking situation, deeming the city’s 1996 data inapplicable to 2003.

The commission also said the city had not obtained permits for meters installed at several parking lots.

City officials are concerned about the cost of a new study. Seal Beach is facing a severe budget crunch that officials hoped would be eased by revenue collected from the parking meters.

At the earliest, Main Street drivers may see meters in February 2004, said Mayor John Larson. The city hopes to generate $400,000 a year from the meters.

“If we don’t have parking meters, we’ll have to scale back improvements to Main Street,” such as fixing sidewalks and curbs, Larson said.

Most of the people walking along Main Street on Friday, however, applauded the delay.

“Good. I’m happy,” said Seal Beach resident Maureen Brown as she sipped coffee on a wooden bench. “It’ll keep out the commercial atmosphere and keep it homey.”

Christina Eaves, who runs a memorabilia store on Main Street, had hoped the city would scrap the idea altogether. She worries that parking meters will deter customers from spending time on the street.

“It’s an added cost, plus it’s inconvenient,” Eaves said.

“People will have to have quarters in their pocket and retailers will have to have extra quarters on hand.”

But many business owners believe that parking meters may be necessary.

“The city needs to raise revenue, like any business,” said James Boyd of Boyd’s Books. “Would people rather they raise taxes? I don’t think so.”

Earl Charles “Woody” Woodruff, a Main Street hair salon owner who is on the city’s parking commission, hopes the city will move ahead with its plan to install meters.

“If you don’t meter Main Street, you not only get more parking problems, but you get traffic and safety issues,” he said.

“I’ve seen cars backed up to Pacific Coast Highway waiting for free parking,” Woodruff said.

“People almost run over pedestrians as they park for a moment on the crosswalk to go into the post office to mail a letter.”