Temporary street closure to test downtown plan worries some business owners

A Laguna Beach business owner has collected the signatures of at least 100 people who oppose a downtown street closure that was approved earlier this month by the City Council.

Michael McFadden, owner of Rock Martin Custom Jewelry on Forest Avenue, said closing a portion of the street from Coast Highway to Glenneyre Street for a trial period in August and September would impede traffic flow and take away the 48 parking spaces on the street.

The council voted May 5 to close the street as a test while the city considers making the downtown more pedestrian-friendly by diverting cars in some areas and adding outdoor seating.

“There is limited parking and traffic is horrible,” McFadden said. “To take away parking and close a main artery through town doesn’t make any sense.”

Previous temporary street closures have hurt merchants, he said.

“First, people can’t access the street because there is no parking,” McFadden said. “On top of that, when you have a lot of attractions and distractions, people flock to that instead of walking down the sidewalk and looking into [shop] windows. Yeah, there might be a great party on the street, but what does it do for business? Nothing.”

The council also approved adding parklets, small seating areas adjacent to the sidewalk, for the trial period. Restaurateurs at the meeting favored the parklets, with two owners offering to pay to install the spaces.

The city would not need to issue a coastal development permit for the proposed work since it is not permanent, Community Development Director Greg Pfost said.

“I come from Europe, and every major city that has a downtown like Forest has something like that,” said Alessandro Pirozzi, owner and chef of Alessa Laguna Beach.

David Rubel, owner of Fredric Rubel Jewelers, said he wouldn’t vote for a plan that hurt businesses but that he needs more information before commenting on the proposed closure.

“The problem is parking,” Rubel said. “People come and park in front of stores. If you’re going to take parking away, there has to be an alternative.”

McFadden’s petition says: “We feel that neither the city nor its consultants, MIG, have thoroughly analyzed the potentially significant negative fiscal impacts upon all downtown businesses.

“We also believe that the city has not addressed compliance with local and state environmental laws regarding significantly altered traffic circulation patterns and displaced parking issues, especially adverse impacts upon visitors and downtown business customers.”

City officials will meet with business owners affected by the proposed projects from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in City Council chambers, 505 Forest Ave.

With information gathered at the meeting, the officials will then prepare a report and present it to the council at its June 16 meeting, Pfost said.