MAIN STREET in Huntington Beach has many restaurants and bars. With street closures in place and possibly permanent, the city plans to hire an urban design firm (OC Tribune photo).

The coming of the coronavirus pandemic has led to many changes in our society, especially in the restaurant and bar business. It may even lead to changes in the way that downtown Huntington Beach functions and looks.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the city council, an extension of the closing of the second block of Main Street – between Olive and Walnut avenues – to vehicular traffic was approved.

The closing makes it easier to continue outdoor dining that is also on public right-of-ways such as sidewalks and streets. The popularity of such business methods may lead to a change in how central business districts are configured, so the council also authorized city staff to hire an urban design firm, establish an ad hoc downtown urban design study committee and appoint Mayor Kim Carr, Mayor Pro Tem Tito Ortiz and Councilmember Dan Kalmick to that committee.

All that was in one motion, approved on a 6-1 vote with Erik Peterson dissenting.

Also on Tuesday night, the council approved for introduction an ordinance prohibiting the storage of private property on public property. Violations will be enforced as an infraction. The vote was 6-1 with Peterson dissenting.

The next meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council is scheduled for Monday, March 1.