Hearings Examiner J. Richard Forester last week approved plansfor the proposed Columbia Shores Commerce Center that would rise onthe lot immediately east of Beaches restaurant, which leases itsspace from C.E. John Co., though maybe not for long.

Restaurant owner Mark Matthias is fighting the project, in partbecause that lot next door is what attracts his patrons. Beachesuses the sand-filled space for beach volleyball, barbecue and livemusic, Wednesday through Saturday, all summer long. Insufficientparking was his argument to the examiner, however, albeitunsuccessful.

Matthias is planning to appeal the examiner's decision to thecity council, but the council will likely back up the hearingsexaminer, who described Vancouver's parking standards as"manifestly inadequate," and then approved the project because itmet the letter of the law.