Update: The application has been withdrawn. There will be no permit and no further public hearing.
Seal Beach Planners voted 3-1 on Wednesday, Aug. 17, to continue a hearing on a request to allow a Marlin Avenue property to be rented out to vacationers. District 3 Commissioner Robert Goldberg cast the dissenting vote.
Neighbors opposed the conditional use permit application because of chronic noise problems and because granting the permit would set a precedent.
The property owner apologized to the neighbors during the hearing, saying she was not aware of how things had gotten out of control.
She also agreed to stop renting the property until the hearing is concluded next month. Planners agreed to let her current tenants stay until Sunday, Aug. 21.
The staff report recommended that planners deny the permit.
Applicant Michele Gamble asked that the hearing be continued so she could have a chance to resolve issues with the neighbors.
The business has been operating since at least May without a license, according to the staff report by Senior Planner Jerry Olivera.
The property is located in the residential low density zone of the city.
According to Olivera’s report, the property is being advertised on www.vrbo.com as available for as many 16 people at a time.
“The Seal Beach Police Department has also responded to at least one complaint of excessive noise at the property within the past 30 days,” Olivera wrote. “It is unknown whether this complaint and the one received by city staff pertain to the same incident.”
The city received one letter opposing the application. In all, seven Marlin Avenue-area residents spoke out against the application. All of the residents complained about noise from tenants.
“I apologize to the neighborhood,” Gamble said. She said she had no idea the situation had gone out of control.
Gamble told planners she had contracts with vacationers thru next May.
“You started the business without the property permits,” Massa-Lavitt said. She said it was Gamble’s responsibility to stop business until she gets a license.
