Mozambique gets more seating but parking is not resolved

Mozambique’s parking problems took center stage at the Laguna Beach City Council meeting Tuesday, but the steakhouse scored some concessions as it got the chance to be heard after appealing a recent decision by the Planning Commission to quash its plans for more seating.

In September, the commission denied Mozambique’s request to open up the Durban Room, a dining room on the first floor that had been closed in exchange for opening the rooftop deck to patrons last year. City staff said that opening the room would attract more people, thereby requiring Mozambique to provide 27 more parking spaces, in keeping with the city’s formula.

Restaurants must provide one parking space for every 100 square feet of floor area, or one space for every three seats, whichever provides the greater number of spaces.

In an effort to balance the often competing commercial and residential interests, the council Tuesday gave a little to Mozambique and a little to nearby residents.

To allow Mozambique to boost business, the council voted unanimously to allow seating inside the Durban Room, which covers 1,886 square feet, while also seating guests on the rooftop deck through Jan. 31. After this date, the areas may not be open at the same time.

In response to neighbors’ concerns about streets being clogged with parked cars, employees of the restaurant will be restricted from parking in an area called the quiet zone from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Jan. 1.

The zone is bordered by Bluebird Canyon Drive to the north, Glenneyre Street to the west, Center Street to the south and Carmelita Street to the east.

In Mozambique’s appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to the council, it said its current use of eight shuttle vans to transport passengers to and from the restaurant, along with plans for adding 16 mechanical car lifts, would offset the need for 27 additional spaces.

Larry Nokes, Mozambique’s attorney, said the business’ owner, Ivan Spiers, should be rewarded for seeking creative solutions to the citywide issue of limited parking. Spiers also leases more than 100 offsite parking spaces for valet and employee parking that he does not get credit for under city code.

But the city isn’t completely satisfied with these efforts and will be montoring the parking situation and whether the opening of the Durban Room has added to business.

The council also rejected the idea of the car lifts and directed Mozambique to remove by May 31 a storage unit that blocks four parking spaces, City Manager John Pietig wrote in an email.

City staff will also measure noise levels, and if they exceed the permitted limit, Mozambique would need to pay the city to contract with an independent noise engineer to rectify any problems.

“The Planning Commission got it right within the context of what they are permitted to do,” Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow said, explaining that the project, specifically parking requirements, fail to meet standards set in the municipal code.

Residents for and against the appeal jammed the council chambers.

Supporters lauded Mozambique’s community contributions, such as hosting charity fundraisers and providing a venue for local musicians.

“I live a block away on Flora Street, and I do see Mozambique as a service to the city and our neighborhood in particular,” resident Jason Vogel said. Vogel encouraged the City Council to take a comprehensive look at the parking options Spiers offered.

“If it takes people off the street, if it takes people from parking in front of my house, I think that is great,” Vogel said. “This is the type of creative approach that should be encouraged not only at Mozambique but at other places in the city.”

“I try to be a good citizen and neighbor; that is all I care about,” Spiers said.

Opponents of the exceptions said they don’t want to see Mozambique lose business, but argued the restaurant needs to live by the rules.

“You can’t grant a variance when the hardship involved is self-induced with the applicant’s desire to put more on this property than it can support,” Village Laguna President Johanna Felder said. “A variance to allow the intensification of use would be in direct conflict with the land-use element of the general plan, which calls for preserving the livability of neighborhoods adjacent to commercial districts by regulating and minimizing impacts from commercial activities, including employee parking.”

Late-night noise has also been an issue for resident Erin Sparkuhl, who lives on Glenneyre Street a “stone’s throw” from the restaurant.

“I like supporting Laguna businesses and I want to see this town thrive, but I don’t think it’s fair to do at the expense of residents who live a couple doors from the property,” Sparkuhl said. “I can hear thumping in the late-night hours from music and all the people in the parking lot. If I can hear that, I can hear a car lift.

“If you open the first floor after you’ve already opened the rooftop deck, you will be adding additional people and employees, and parking is already a huge problem. I’m lucky if I can have friends over who can find a spot to park these days.”

Pietig said that in response to recent concerns about parking at downtown businesses, the Planning Commission and city staff will review the city’s parking ordinances and determine whether changes are necessary.