Rose Bakery Cafe can keep its expanded outdoor seating area, the Newport Beach Planning Commission decided in an unanimous vote Thursday night.
“I’m so grateful,” owner Shawn Lim said after the public hearing. “It would have killed us if it didn’t go through.”
The popular restaurant and donut shop at 3536 East Coast Highway had four outdoor tables, but Lim added three to accommodate the crowds that line up for breakfast and lunch every day of the week. The city cracked down last summer because he didn’t have enough parking spaces to support the extra seating.
At the hearing, the commissioners reviewed a parking agreement between Lim and the owners of neighboring Landmark Steakhouse. They also heard testimony, mostly from fans of the restaurant.
“It gives a little charm, a wonderful feeling,” said Carlo Vallarino of Newport Coast. “That’s what Newport Beach needs — more like that. I feel like I’m a little bit in Italy,” he said, adding that he was born in Lake Como, Italy.
“I’m very happy that they’re there,” said Corona del Mar resident Dick Nichols. “What a customer base…you’re going all the way from the bikers to the babies in carriages, the families, the kids…”
“It encourages a really nice village feeling,” said Scott Palmer, a member of the Corona del Mar Business Improvement District.
But neighbor Joy Condon testified that delivery trucks and grease trap cleaners were a nusiance.
“I get three hours of sleep,” she said. “Landmark closed at 2 a.m., and Roses Donuts gets their deliveries at 5 a.m.”
The commissioners recessed so city staff could talk to Lim, who agreed to limit the hours for trash collection, grease trap cleanings and deliveries to after 7 a.m. and before 10 p.m.
Commissioner Michael Toerge said he was pleased that the parking issues were solidly addressed the Rose application, and that Lim did not try to use his heavy cycling and pedestrian client base to wriggle out of his obligations.
“I’ll be there, probably Friday, for my deluxe patty burger combo,” he said.
Lim said that now that he has city approval, he plans to stay open an hour later, to 7 p.m. He also said he’ll make improvements to the outdoor seating area, adding a rail and sprucing up the space.
Read our earlier story here.
