WHAT HAPPENED: The City Council approved a...

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved a zoning change to accommodate a new

Lowe’s Improvement Warehouse.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The Planning Commission approved the Lowe’s Home Improvement

Project on Oct. 30.

The development would include a 135,666-square-foot hardware store

with a 21,416-square-foot garden center and a restaurant that would

occupy approximately 8,500 square feet.

Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, which sells home improvement

products and equipment, operates 875 stores in 45 states. The store

would be built at the northeast corner of Beach Boulevard and Warner

Avenue, at the former Rancho View School site. The former elementary

school will be demolished. Improvements will include 734 spaces and

improved landscaping.

Five Ocean View Little League baseball fields will be relocated to

Park View School at Goldenwest Street and Norma Drive.

Construction is estimated to begin in spring 2004.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved the return of the annual Pacific

Shoreline Marathon Run to return to Huntington Beach in January.

WHAT IT MEANS:

This winter will mark the Pacific Shoreline Marathon’s eighth year

in Huntington Beach. The event includes a marathon, a half marathon,

a 5K and a children’s run. Last year, the event attracted more than

5,000 runners from more than 300 California cities as well as from

many other states and countries.

Doug Traub estimated that the marathon generates at least $220,000

for the city.

City streets will be closed between Pacific Coast Highway and

Central Park during the run. Residents will be notified to lessen the

inconvenience, city officials said.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council decided not to provide free street parking

Downtown during the holiday season this year, because of the budget

crunch.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Traditionally, the city provides free parking at outside parking

meters in the business zone for holiday shoppers. City officials

recommended that the council vote to continue the practice to attract

customers, promote shopping and generate sales tax for the city.

The City Council, however, decided that the estimated $20,000 that

the city would lose in revenue during the free parking period would

be too much given the city’s financial straits.

Mayor Connie Boardman and council members Debbie Cook, Cathy

Green, Jill Hardy and Dave Sullivan voted to deny the measure.

Council members Gil Coerper and Pam Julien Houchen supported it.