A plan to turn a fenced-in former Navy building on the Marina Green into a scenic new outpost of Woodhouse Fish Company already has some neighbors on the northern waterfront feeling crabby. 70-year-old, 30-year Marina Boulevard resident Arthur Scampa is leading the charge to defend his coastline from the counter-service seafood joint.

Scampa is a long-time resident, first-time complainer, the Examiner reports, and he objects to the restaurant for a variety of reasons. Namely: traffic, light pollution, the impact on birds (who will get fatter, lazier and more aggressive once there's an abundance of lobster roll droppings), and the threat of selling booze near the children (who will get fatter, lazier and more aggressive once there's a counter-service bar near their soccer fields). Despite early support for the restaurant, the Coalition of San Francisco Neighborhoods, which represents 48 different neighborhood groups, has also spoken out against the proposal from the well-regarded local chain.

The complaint echoes the arguments we've heard in other neighborhoods: that a commercial restaurant is, according to Scampa, "a major change of a public park." We are, of course, talking about the same park bordered by a Safeway parking lot and a private yacht club that allows flip-flops in the dining room.

Rec & Parks approved the deal back in September, saying the deal was a good use of the building that has sat closed for 30 years. Scampa, on the other hand, said there might be a single supporter amongst his Marina Boulevard neighbors. Scampa has also offered to pay for renovations to turn the building into a clubhouse for the kids who use the recreation facilities in the park.

Marina supervisor and father of several young athletes himself, Mark Farrell called the complaint "irrelevant" and believes the lease should be approved. If the deal goes through, the waterfront Woodhouse will get a 10-year lease in exchange for rehabbing the crumbling naval degaussing station. The proposed restaurant would have seating for 75 total — 50 of those seats outdoors on the patio — and will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. It is expected to generate $110,000 a year for Rec & Parks.

The proposal needs to clear a vote by the Government Audit and Oversight Committee before being approved by the full board. Naturally, the S.F. Bay Conservation and Development Commission will also need to approve the clam shack and Rec & Parks gets final say on the design.

Previously: Woodhouse Fish Co. Wants To Open Marina Green's Most Scenic Clam Shack
[SFEx]