Plans to open a pop-up surf shop next to the pier this summer have been put on hold after complaints from neighbors and due to the late date.
The city council on June 2 tentatively gave the okay to Nikau Kai Waterman Shop to rent boards, bikes and other equipment from the edge of the lower south pier parking lot. But when the proposal came back for final approval on July 21, the council put off the store’s opening until 2016, saying that what was proposed had changed significantly from what was approved.
“I did approve something on June 2, but it turned into something else,” said Councilmember Wayne Powell. “I don’t want to kill the project. I just want to get it right, especially since we have time.”
Powell and his colleagues had approved a six-month extension of the temporary store and information center operated by Nikau Kai owner Jason Shanks last summer, with the addition of bicycle rentals.
But on July 21, staff presented the council with an ongoing coastal permit. City Manager Mark Danaj said that staff had provided an overly broad permit so they wouldn’t have to go through the process again if they chose to extend the program in the future.
Nevertheless, some councilmembers and members of the public were concerned.
About a dozen residents sent letters of protest or spoke against the proposal at the July meeting. Many of their comments focused on the commercialization of the beach.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask people to walk up a block to rent boards and bikes,” said Ginger Shearer, who lives on The Strand behind the proposed site.
Shearer suggested having a small kiosk where customers could order equipment, which the store would then carry down.
Another issue raised was the large storage containers on the site where the city stores its volleyball equipment year-round. As at the June meeting, Shearer and several other residents complained about the units, which rise a few feet above the elevated walkway. They wished the city would get rid of the containers, rather than adding another one for the pop-up shop.
Phil Ranger, who has lived near the proposed site for 26 years, said he had seen young people “drinking, doing drugs and having sex” behind the units at night. He provided a photo of people standing on top of the containers.
“Year ago, before there were the storage containers, people used to sit and watch the sunset,” he said.
After the neighbors spoke, Shanks said he was “anxious to find a solution that works for everybody.”
“This is supposed to benefit the city and is supposed to benefit the residents as well,” he said.
Mayor Mark Burton suggested an alternative location at the bottom of the stairs south of the pier. He was concerned that the original location would block emergency vehicles from being able to access the beach.
Councilmember David Lesser asked staff to involve the community more in the decision. Although Parks and Recreation staff said they had contacted residents near the site as directed, Ranger and another resident said they hadn’t heard from anyone.
“We’re facing a balance of preserving the pier and beach” and economic interests, said Lesser.
“This is some of the most valuable real estate in the city. I’m still struggling with the goal. I keep asking myself about the benefit for residents.”
Originally, staff had planned to open the store this year. But even if the council had accepted the proposal, the shop couldn’t have opened before September due to the time to get approval from the Coastal Commission and to building the temporary shop. The new target date is April through September 2016. ER
