Gelson's Market In Manhattan Beach Approved

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — The long-delayed Gelson's supermarket in Manhattan Beach has been approved by the Manhattan beach City Council on Tuesday after a nearly seven-hour-long public hearing debate that lasted into the wee hours.

Some residents were worried about the potential impact of traffic, parking noise and accidents caused by the proposed development at Sepulveda Boulevard and Eighth Street. Councilwoman Amy Howorth, however, said that the property was zoned for commercial developments and if Gelson's doesn't move in, something else will.

“Sepulveda Boulevard is a zoned commercial site, and if not Gelson’s (then) ... something is going to be built there,” Howorth said. “We all are impacted by each other, and people who live on The Strand have to put up with … people walking by their house every day. People who live next door to a school have to put up with the crazy moms and dads dropping off their kids.”

Councilman Steve Napolitano agreed with Howorth's sentiments. He said the Gelson's project has been ongoing for two years and there isn't anything new that the Council could learn about the project.

“We already know that anything that goes there is going to increase the traffic,” he said.

The project was approved with a number conditions attached, including funding for traffic calming measures and a pedestrian safety study for the area.

Photo courtesy of Gelson's