4705 Point Loma Ave., future site of Kodiak or a continued empty building?
There’s a small battle brewing in south Ocean Beach and it’s all over a restaurant that hasn’t even opened yet.
The owners of the planned restaurant – called “Kodiak” – want to open in the building at the southwest corner of Point Loma Avenue and Ebers. This is the same building where the VFW wanted to open up a chapter house but ended up giving up due to neighborhood opposition.
Now, those same neighbors are battling each other over the projected opening of “Kodiak”. (Judi Curry reported on it about a month ago.)
One side wants zoning changes that would potentially prohibit any restaurants from ever opening along the commercial street of Point Loma Avenue, despite the history of eateries in the area. This side views the new OB Community Plan zoning changes as a window of opportunity to achieve this goal.
So apparently, an organized group of folks who live in the neighborhood that abuts and includes that section of Point Loma will be bringing their opposition to the OB Planning Board meeting, this Wednesday night, Dec. 11th. The Board has called a “Special Meeting” for a one-item agenda meet to vote on the OB Community Plan Update. Outside public comment on non-agenda items, the Board may very well not entertain any comment.
Rumors are abounding in that part of the Land of OB. There’s rumors that Chad Cline – the local who wants to open Kodiak up- has had death threats – totally unconfirmed; also there’s rumors that he’s considering pulling out.
Others in the same neighborhood feel that the restaurant opponents are acting like bullies and vigilantes. This side is willing to give the restaurant a chance and are even looking forward to an upscale eatery.
Both sides are trying to mobilize their people to the Wednesday night meeting. It’s at 6pm sharp in the OB Rec Center at 4726 Santa Monica Avenue.
And both sides may be disappointed that they may not have their voices heard at this Planning Board special meeting. The Board has been struggling with the Plan Update Draft for months now, held numerous hearings, sponsored a town hall meeting to hear and receive comments – and it did.
But until this recent brouhaha developed over “Kodiak” – the southern OB folks were content with the Update. Now they want to be heard – but after 11 years of updating the OB Precise Plan – the community’s development blueprint – the Board and its chair, Tom Gawronski, may not be in the mood to shove aside all their work and listen to these folks who want last minute changes. If the changes they want in zoning for that commercial street will prohibit any restaurants in the now and in the future, they may be paddling against a stronger current.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
OMG are some people just pathetic. Really? Not even a restaurant despite the fact that that space has been a restaurant before? You got your way not letting it open as a VFW post (heaven for bid there are kids around) but a restaurant? I’ll be in PC here and just say you suck. What ever your concerns here about a restaurant going up and how it affects you I have not a stitch of sympathy. None and we share no common ground. I actually hope this goes up just to spite you.
That property was probably commercial before zoning even existed in the area, and certainly has been for several decades now. Pretty sure that Rome hasn’t fallen yet. Irony for the NIMBYs fighting this — a good number of whom surely don’t even live in the OB Planning Area that this board and plan represent — is that any delay in approving the Community Plan Update leaves them with less say in what goes on there and puts them at higher risk of having an *actual* undesirable land use opening in that location.
Wrong arguments, wrong time and place to make them.
…rant deleted, with the exception of “self-centered elderly rich people with an exaggerated sense of entitlement suck.”
We live a couple blocks away. In the spirit of OB, if the restaurant is successful and is a good neighbor, great. As noted, it’s been commercial and food establishment for decades. Another good, walkable dining option here would be fine with us. Restaurants are a tough business – if they prove not to be successful or don’t respect their neighborhood, they won’t be around long.
Many challenges have come up along the way for the community plan update to be precise. If this is a late entry , so what ? allow residents the opportunity to voice their opinions. One more minor delay for a THIRTY YEAR plan is small potatoes.
This entire process is for the people, let the people be heard !
OBPB serves in an advisory role to the city, they don’t have final say on our community plan update or any building permits.
You can also bring this up with city development services.
Having said that, I don’t think changing the zoning is a good idea, I agree with want2surf, residents will decide if the business is successful.
Services within walking distance in any neighborhood is great proposition.
That’s the part that kills me. Why would anyone NOT want a nice restaurant within walking distance? If they truly don’t they’re idiots and they’re selfish also due to complete lack of concern for their fellow neighbors WHO DO want something there. And yes, if this place isn’t good and in effect not do well then it will fail and then hopefully something better will come along.
Goatskull – At the recent OB Planning Board a number of people got up and stated that they didn’t want any late night noise in their quiet neighborhood, no karaoke singing, no dancing, no loud music.
If the place is just a restaurant I don’t see those kinds of things happening. That being said I don’t relate to that mentality as I live in an area (Hillcrest and it’s surrounding neighborhoods) with tons of things going on and that’s what drew me there (along with the fact that my wife was lived there when we started dating).
It would make for a confusing picket line…
“What do we want??!”
“Empty buildings!”
“When do we want it??!”
“I dunno, a decade or so!”
Yeah… Sorta hard to understand
My own personal opinion, I hope he moves in and does well. I have faith he would be a good neighbor for that area. That building just looks sad….
Jon – Good thing I wasn’t holding my cup of joe close to the keyboard!
While the chant is going on …. why not amend the community plan to state a vacancy of xyz is required on a commercial block. No new business until one moves out, goes bankrupt or gets taken over by a condo!
Come on people…really??? Saying no to a decent restaurant in that area? If the Thursday Club can operate up the street no reason a new restaurant cannot go in especially when there was one there BEFORE!
I cannot wait until it opens!
I can’t wait until it opens either. Hopefully it will be good. If it is I will enjoy rubbing in the face of those who opposed it. I know, very un PC of me to think that.
Yeah, oppose a business that creates jobs and will actually give something back to the neighborhood. But build a monstrosity of condos on the former site of Dempsey’s and it’s nothing but the sound of crickets.
According to Judi, Cline denies that he has had any “death threats” and laughed about the possibility.
Show Me the Menu!
I happen to live around the corner and I would love another dining option within walking distance. I don’t think this new restaurant should cater to bands or karoke but a nice establishment where you can grab a bite to eat and a drink on a Friday night would great! These homeowner’s are out of their damn minds! When you purchase property by a City beach this is to be expected.
It’s in a business district.