Newport Beach : Bike Shop’s Appeal on Food Sales Up to Council

The issue of whether bicycle rentals mix with fast-food sales is slated to come before the City Council tonight when it considers an appeal by a Balboa bike shop to overturn a decision by the Planning Commission on the matter.

Scheduled for a full public hearing, tonight’s meeting will mark the second time the council has heard the appeal by Ocean Front Wheelworks, which maintains that it needs to sell hot dogs, hamburgers and the like in order to stay in business.

Although the commission several weeks ago rejected the shop’s request for a conditional use permit because it said selling food would further intensify use of the building, located near the Balboa Pier, the council voted on Sept. 9 to delay a final decision to give both sides a chance to work out a compromise.

Possible compromise measures could include limiting the hours Ocean Front Wheelworks could sell food, having the business pay the city for use of municipal parking spaces and limiting the types of food that could be served.