Residents concerned about Main St.

After citizen complaints about the new building on PCH and Main, the city has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, July 18, to look at a proposal to change the city code to limit the height of commercial buildings on Main Street. The Planning Commission meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Planners can only make a recomendation to the council. The final decision to change city law belongs to the council. The council last month directed staff to begin the process to change the city code and the Main Street Specific Plan to limit the height of commercial buildings to 25 feet and a maximum of two stories. In May, several citizens complained to the council about the size of the new retail and office building going up next door to the Bay Theatre. In June, staff asked for the council’s direction on the issue.

The Sun contacted some residents who oppose the height limit but declined to comment.

The PCH and Main building was approved by city staff without public hearings because the project complied with both the city code and the Specific Plan. In 2008, Seal Beach changed the residential height limit by a ballot initiative.

Sun Newspapers, Inc. is the owner of a commercial building on Main Street in Seal Beach.