An alternative pier proposal
I’m writing this in response to the article on the end of pier restaurant (“Off the Hook lands pier space deal,” Thursday, May 1, Sun Newspapers).
I miss Ruby’s on the pier, but I can well understand why they wanted to cover their losses and leave that location.
I did go to Ruby’s with the family about six to eight times a year over the past six or seven years they were here.
Every time was a positive experience. However the last two years they were open, at weekday breakfast, we nearly had the restaurant to ourselves.
Granted during that time frame the city was working on the pier, putting down new decking and portions of the pier were closed.
We also had a wet winter or two which slowed down traffic.
I can imagine the financial results to the corporation from this location were not good, especially compared to the new Ruby’s on PCH and Westminster.
The end of an older wood structure that is one-quarter mile from the shoreline and parking, is not a very attractive place to open a new, very expensive to build, fine restaurant.
Throw in the need to provide public restrooms, take on the liability of trip and fall accidents during a one-quarter-mile walk, possible expense of a tram system (if approved by the California Coastal Commission) and the sharing of end of the pier space with fishermen and you have a giant problem on your hands. As things stand at the present time, the Seal Beach community has been without: a restaurant at the end of the pier, a full-length pier for fishing and a refurbished deck to the end of the pier, for the past two years.
If a new restaurant were to be built, the fully restored pier wouldn’t be available for another three to four years.
Could something else be done? YES! The city could negotiate with the current applicant to jointly forget about the end of the pier and prepare and build a new complex at the foot of the pier on the footprint of the existing Lifeguard/police structure and expand across the down ramp on the north side to connect directly with the pier.
The new complex would house the Lifeguard office on the sand level with the police office sharing space with the first floor of the restaurant at street level and a second floor of full restaurant with a deck and bar above the second floor.
The views from the second floor and upper deck would be spectacular.
Parking is close at hand, delivery would be a snap, and getting into the restaurant would be as easy as a walk on the city sidewalk.
Best of all, this could be completed in about three years (coastal permit, design and construction).
In the mean time, the city could concentrate on removing the old Ruby’s and restrooms and out building, cutting back the old water and sewer lines to an updated fish cleaning sink closer to shore, and completing the pier deck refurbishing to the end of the pier.
This removal and deck refurbishing could be completed during the 2014-2015 winter season and the full pier would be ready for the Seal Beach community during the summer, 2015. Happy Days are here again!
Pat Kearns
Seal Beach
Pier space is municipal property
I would like to point out that Wendy Rothman did not participate in the City of Seal Beach request for proposal, “RFP,” process, and meet the deadlines that the city required in their “RFP” guidelines of 2013.
The city is attempting to lease municipal property. The municipal property belongs to the residents of Seal Beach.
The residents of Seal Beach have a right to look over and compare Rothman’s proposal to the only proposal submitted in the RFP by Christy Food Service Corporation. Secondly, I would like to point out that the $2.8 million restaurant complex offered by Rothman will most likely not pass the Coastal Commission’s study of the project.
I hate to say this, but the residents of Seal Beach are about to be stuck with an expensive per-person average check seafood restaurant as opposed to the moderately priced family restaurant that the city asked for in their “RFP.”
Third, if the $2.8 million complex is approved by the Coastal Commission, I would like to be the first to congratulate Wendy Rothman.
The investment in municipal property of $2.8 million would be a wonderful gift to the residents of Seal Beach.
Art Haack
President
Christy Food Service Corporation
Say ‘No’ to ProLogis truck terminal project
I am sending this to your paper to register my strong disapproval of Measure A, which will rezone more of Cypress to mixed use/light industrial use.
Doing this will assure the residents of Cypress, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Rossmoor and Garden Grove of more pollution and gridlock traffic.
There will be a major decrease in quality of a healthful, safe environment. Where is the Senior Center?
I would also like to oppose the ProLogis truck terminal project. This is a disaster for everyone except the Los Alamitos Race Track owners and ProLogis.
The Los Alamitos and Cypress school children will be dramatically affected; there are many schools surrounding this project.
Hundreds of trucks a day will bring more cancer causing diesel emissions to our community. Eighteen-wheeler trucks will be coming from the Port of Long Beach, driving down Katella Avenue to this distribution terminal to deposit their containers.
Then the owners of the products inside the containers will send their trucks to the terminal to pick up the contents.
There will be many trucks coming for each container left at the ProLogis Terminal.
The Cypress City Council should oppose this inappropriate and dangerous project. This is a disaster for everyone living in the area.
Christine Arfwedson
Professor of Nursing Cerritos College
Transponders are still necessary for express lanes
Drivers are reminded that a transponder will continue to be required in order to use the 91 Express Lanes. Drivers who use the 91 Express Lanes will continue to pay tolls through FasTrak transponders that automatically deduct fees from a prepaid account. Earlier this year, the Transportation Corridor Agencies launched a new transponder-free ExpressAccounts. This transponder-free alternative does not apply to OCTA’s 91 Express Lanes. Beginning Wednesday, May 14 the TCA will remove all cash and coin collection machines along the 51-mile network of roads.
The cash-free and transponder-free alternatives will affect drivers who use the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads in Orange County.
The 91 Express Lanes is a four-lane, 10-mile toll road built in the median of California’s Riverside Freeway (SR-91) between the Orange/Riverside County line and the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55).
OCTA bought the 91 Express Lanes in 2003 from the private company that built them. The purchase removed a non-compete clause that prevented improvements to the adjacent freeway and to date, more than $10 million from 91 Express Lanes revenue has gone to improve the Riverside Freeway (SR-91). For more information about the 91 Express Lanes, visit www.octa.net/91ExpressLanes. For more information about the TCA’s ExpressAccount options, visit www.thetollroads.com
Orange County Transportation Authority
The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of the Sun. The Sun welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 300 words maximum. Letters should be e-mailed, signed by the author and include the author’s address and phone number (the latter two are for verification, not publication). The Sun reserves the right to accept, edit, or reject letters for any reason. Unless otherwise indicated, all letters sent to the Sun are understood to be intended for publication. E-mail letters to: dennis@sunnews.org.
