MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Parakeet Café's long-awaited arrival in downtown Manhattan Beach could move a step closer Wednesday as city planners consider an expansion that includes legalizing construction work completed without permits by a previous tenant.
The Manhattan Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the proposal at its Oct. 28 meeting, with city staff recommending approval of changes to the property at 1140 Highland Ave., formerly occupied by Un Caffè Altamura.
According to a staff report prepared for the commission, the application would allow Parakeet Café to convert former retail space into additional restaurant space, renovate the interior and legalize a 75-square-foot addition to the building that was constructed without the required permits. The application was submitted April 22, and the proposed changes are now before commissioners for a public hearing and possible approval.
The project would transform the existing combination of restaurant and retail space into a larger, restaurant-only operation. City documents show that the previous 1,997-square-foot premises consisted of 1,164 square feet devoted to restaurant use and 833 square feet designated for retail. Under the proposal, the entire space would become a restaurant, with an additional 75 square feet bringing the total to 2,072 square feet.
The proposed renovations include an expanded dining area, new kitchen facilities, remodeled bathrooms, additional storage, a walk-in cooler and a new trash enclosure. Architectural plans submitted to the city also provide a glimpse of the proposed café, with renderings depicting patterned flooring, warm pink ceilings, decorative wall treatments, greenery and a redesigned service counter.
The project plans and architectural renderings are included among the attachments to the Planning Commission's agenda item.
One of the more unusual aspects of the application concerns construction work carried out before Parakeet Café became involved with the property. During its review, the city determined that a previous tenant had converted retail space to restaurant use and expanded the building by approximately 75 square feet without obtaining the necessary approvals.
The addition is located on the southern side of the building, adjoining Center Place. The staff report makes clear that the unpermitted work was undertaken by the previous tenant, not Parakeet Café, which is now seeking the necessary approvals and building permits to bring the premises into compliance.
Despite the permitting issue, planning officials concluded that the expansion would comply with applicable development standards. The property's maximum permitted building floor area is 6,750 square feet, while the proposed total would be 5,970 square feet, comfortably below that limit.
City staff also found that the expansion would not adversely affect surrounding properties, noting that the premises are surrounded by commercial uses rather than residences and that the expanded restaurant use has existed for some time without significant complaints.
The proposal does not seek to change the property's existing permitted operating hours or its beer-and-wine authorization. Under the current approvals, the restaurant may operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The existing authorization permits on-site beer and wine sales under a Type 41 California alcoholic beverage license. Parakeet Café is not requesting an expansion of those alcohol privileges. The city's review also determined that the project would not increase the property's existing parking requirement of five spaces.
The building itself has a lengthy commercial history. In 2002, the Planning Commission approved a use permit amendment allowing beer and wine sales in connection with restaurant operations. Another city approval in 2015 allowed part of a former vehicle repair area to be converted to retail use. The latest application would continue that evolution by consolidating the restaurant and former retail areas into a single dining establishment.
City planning staff have recommended that commissioners approve the use permit amendment, subject to conditions, and determine that the project qualifies for an exemption from additional environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. The exemption applies to minor alterations of existing facilities involving negligible expansion of their existing use.
According to the staff report, the city's Building and Traffic divisions, Public Works, Fire and Police departments reviewed the proposal and raised no unresolved objections. The city had received no public comments concerning the application as of the preparation of the report.
The Planning Commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in City Council Chambers at 1400 Highland Ave., with remote participation available.
If commissioners approve the amendment, Parakeet Café would still need to obtain the applicable building permits and complete the necessary improvements before opening. No confirmed opening date is identified in the city's application materials.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Manhattan Beach Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.