Hennessey’s Tavern gets Laguna Beach council OK for upstairs dining deck

The Laguna Beach City Council unanimously approved some additions to Hennessey’s Tavern on Tuesday that include a second-story dining deck.

The pub at 213 Ocean Ave. was also permitted to expand its ground-floor outdoor patio dining space. Both changes have received recommendations from the Planning Commission.

The second story currently contains no deck, only windows and a roof overhang. The new deck would have ocean views and be about 135 square feet with 12 seats.

The ground-floor patio space was approved to nearly double in size, from 184 square feet to 346 square feet, enough for about 25 seats.

Vacation rentals

In other action, the council approved eight units at 538-556 N. Coast Hwy. to be converted into short-term lodging units, or vacation rentals.

A city official had denied the application, partially due to some neighborhood concern about the units’ potential to cause noise, traffic and parking problems.

The property’s management company, SVN Vanguard, appealed the decision. The council’s 3-1 vote, with Councilwoman Toni Iseman dissenting, overturned the denial.

Mayor Pro Tem Rob Zur Schmiede recused himself, citing a potential conflict of interest because of a prior business relationship.

Some of the units — which are two- and three-bedroom apartments that face Coast Highway — may not necessarily become vacation rentals, said SVN president, Cameron Irons.

Irons said the remaining tenants, who have month-to-month leases, will not be evicted so their former homes can become vacation rentals.

“We have no intention of displacing people,” he said.

City officials said the complex has sufficient parking and will be required to have an on-site manager to work with the vacation renters.

“If this one didn’t work as a vacation rental, I’m wondering what would,” Irons said.

bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint