TO:
Honorable Planning Commission Chair and Commissioners
THROUGH:
Masa Alkire, Community Development Director
FROM:
Adam Finestone, Planning Manager
Tari Kuvhenguhwa, Associate Planner
SUBJECT:Title
Continued Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution No. PC 26-XX to Amend the Permitted Hours of Operation for an Existing Eating and Drinking Establishment Located at 309 Manhattan Beach Boulevard.
A) CONDUCT AND CLOSE THE CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
B) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. PC 26-XX
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission: (1) conduct and close the continued public hearing; and (2) adopt the attached resolution supplementing Resolution No. PC 24-13.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
On October 9, 2024, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider a request for a Use Permit Amendment and Coastal Development Permit to allow the expansion of an eating and drinking establishment, including second-story outdoor dining, on-site sales and service of alcohol, and live entertainment (Project) at an existing restaurant located at 309 Manhattan Beach Boulevard (Property). The staff report from the October 9, 2024, Planning Commission hearing is included as Attachment 6 to this report. At the conclusion of said hearing, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 24-13, approving the Use Permit Amendment and Coastal Development Permit, subject to certain conditions of approval, one of which allowed expanded operating hours for the second story (2:00 a.m. closing time for indoor and 11:00 p.m. closing time for the outdoor dining area) on a one-year trial basis from the start of operations on the second story. The condition required the applicant to return to the Planning Commission after one year if they desired to maintain the expanded operating hours.
On February 25, 2026, the Community Development Department received an application from Greg Newman, on behalf of Esperanza (Applicant), requesting continued use of the expanded operating hours for the second story beyond the one-year trial period, which was scheduled to end on June 11, 2026. On June 10, 2026, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Applicant’s request. The staff report from that hearing is included as Attachment 4 to this report. Four public comments were made during the hearing: two from the applicant team in support of the request, one public comment in support of the request, and one public comment expressing concern over the current noise levels along the block of Manhattan Beach Boulevard where the Property and several other eating and drinking establishments are located.
At the hearing, the Planning Commission determined that modifications to Resolution No. 24-13 were warranted to approve the Applicant’s request, continued the hearing to July 8, 2026, and directed staff to return with a resolution allowing the expanded hours on a permanent basis. The draft Resolution is included with this report as Attachment 2, and includes proposed findings and modified conditions of approval for the Commission’s consideration.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
The City has reviewed the Applicant’s request for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and has determined that the Project qualifies for a Class 1 categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the State CEQA Guidelines. Class 1 exemptions include the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing private structures or facilities, involving negligible expansion of an existing or former use. The Applicant’s request, which consists of the continued operation of the second story of an existing eating and drinking establishment until 2:00 a.m. for the indoor area and 11:00 p.m. for the outdoor dining area, represents a negligible expansion of use. Furthermore, there are no features that distinguish this project from others in the exempt class, and therefore, there are no unusual circumstances. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Applicant’s request on June 10, 2026. At that meeting, it was announced that the item would be continued to the July 8, 2026, regular meeting of the Planning Commission. As such, no additional public notification was required. As of the writing of this staff report, staff has received no additional public comments since the June 10, 2026 hearing.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. 26-00XX, amending the conditions of approval for an existing Use Permit related to operating hours for the second story (including an outdoor dining area), and finding the project categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Vicinity Map - 309 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
2. Draft Resolution No. PC 26-XX
3. Resolution No. 24-13
4. June 10, 2026 - Planning Commission Staff Report (Web-Link Provided)
5. Late Public Comment - June 10, 2026 Planning Commission Meeting
6. October 9, 2024 - Planning Commission Staff Report (Web-Link Provided)