The City Council has rejected an appeal from a Hermosan who planned to build a 35-space parking lot on Hermosa Avenue, where the old Classic Burger and Hermosa Beach Donuts buildings once stood near downtown.
The council’s decision, which upheld the city Planning Commission’s denial of a precise development plan for the lot, came on a 4-1 vote with Councilman Kit Bobko dissenting.
Despite the vote, the council encouraged would-be lot developer Thomas Brodie and his neighbors to seek an agreement that would allow the lot to be built on what is now vacant land.
More than 100 people signed a petition opposing the parking lot, which Brodie sought to operate around the clock. Numerous residential neighbors have told the council and Planning Commission that they would be disturbed by late-night downtown revelers returning to their vehicles in the lot.
Owners of 23 nearby businesses signed a petition supporting the lot.
The lot plan at first called for a 12-foot tall sign with a moving electronic message along Hermosa Avenue, but that element was scrapped after residents complained.
The council majority cited a need to protect the quality of life of the residents, whose main concern was the lot’s hours of operation. Bobko contended that the lot would be consistent with the land’s commercial zoning, and said he did not want to spend city money fighting a possible lawsuit by Brodie.
“I don’t want to be threatened with the L word,” Mayor Peter Tucker responded.
Brodie cited state antitrust law as he made his case to the council, alleging that city officials have an interest in preserving a “monopolistic” role for fee-based municipal parking lots in the area. ER
