Local News in Brief : City, Restaurant Settle Case

Palos Verdes Estates and a popular Lunada Bay Italian restaurant have agreed to an out-of-court settlement that will permit the restaurant to remain open.

The city sued Viva La Pasta and owner Joseph Calderone this year, alleging that the restaurant had expanded without getting required building permits.

Under the settlement, Calderone will pay the city $15,000 and will be issued permits to bring the restaurant to code by Oct. 1. If Calderone doesn’t comply, the restaurant will be closed, said City Atty. Mark Allen.

The settlement, which was approved by the council Tuesday, also limited patio service at the restaurant to four hours on Sundays. Outdoor service had been operating without restriction, although the city maintained that the restaurant had added outdoor tables without permission.

Viva La Pasta had complied with city codes when it began serving pasta and pizza specialties in 1985. But no permits were sought for expansions into neighboring office space in 1986, onto an outdoor patio this year or for a new downstairs kitchen built in 1987.

Neighboring merchants and residents had complained to the city that the restaurant’s popularity has outstripped its parking capacity. Customers reportedly have been parking in other merchants’ parking spaces and on residential streets.

Allen said the city intends to use the $15,000 settlement to improve parking in the area.