Beached bell

Wet sandy surfers order from the walkup window facing the beach and soccer moms feed kids from the low-budget menu.

Change is in the air in Pacifica though as it makes a push to reclaim the San Pedro Creek, which feeds into the ocean just south of the Taco Bell, and turn the surrounding area into bird and steelhead habitat.

Two beachfront homes near the creek have already been destroyed by the city of Pacifica in an agreement reached with the owner. Rumors swirled that local environmentalists had also set their eyes on the Taco Bell.

"I don't approve of fast food and in my opinion it shouldn't be on the beach at all," said Shirley Suhrer.

Suhrer is the secretary of Pacifica's Environmental Family, a nonprofit group that removes non-native vegetation from the beach and replaces them with native plants. The group, along with the Pacifica Beach Coalition, has spent the past 10 years trying to keep the beach clean and free from predatory plants like ice plant.

Clark Natwick is also a member of the group and participates in beach restoration and cleanup. He says beachgoers need to be more responsible with their trash.

"I've seen Safeway carts parked on the beach and there certainly is a lot of Taco Bell trash left behind," Natwick said.

It's unlikely though that Taco Bell will surrender its lucrative site. One scenario is that the entire structure would be lifted and moved to a spot closer to the highway. But no agreement has been made with the town.

Pacifica Councilman Peter DeJarnatt said it would be nice to reach an agreement with Dolan Foster Enterprises, LLC, the owner of the beachfront Taco Bell, similar to the one made with the owner of the two demolished homes.

"I don't think it will happen," DeJarnatt said. "And there is no truth that Pacifica would consider using eminent domain to claim the spot, at least in my perspective."

Taco Bell's Beatrice Guerrero, general manager of the Pacifica site, said it is unlikely the fast food eatery would move especially considering its high volume of customers.

Linda Mar resident Olivia Barbachano often takes her grandchildren to the beach and enjoys the Taco Bell.

"Pacifica has had an extreme makeover and the improvements to the beach have been wonderful. But why take away the Taco Bell? Everyone enjoys it," Barbachano said.

"No. They are not taking away the Taco Bell," her grandson Jeremiah said emphatically.

A beach cleanup and restoration is scheduled for the weekend of June 26 and 27. Visit Pacifica's Environmental Family on the Web at http://www.pefplus.org/ for more information.