COSTA MESA : Council Refuses to Renew Bar’s Permit
The owner of Henry n’ Harry’s Goat Hill Tavern has seven days to appeal a decision by the City Council on Monday that could eventually close the bar, which some neighbors have blamed for loud fights and reckless driving.
Testimony before the council included a report from Fire Marshal Tom MacDuff that the bar, at 1830 Newport Blvd., was cited last week for exceeding its occupancy limit of 217. Costa Mesa police recorded 23 incidents from March 5 to June 18.
“When you take the whole picture into account, it’s obvious to me this business is not operating in a responsible manner,” said Councilwoman Mary Hornbuckle.
The council voted 4 to 1, with Councilman Orville Amburgey opposed, not to renew the bar’s conditional-use permit. The bar has had to defend its operations since neighbors and nearby business owners and managers began complaining to the city nearly 11 months ago.
“I’m trying to clean it up,” owner Robert R. Zeimer told council members, citing several steps he has taken to comply with city and fire codes. He has hired a new security agency to provide guards for the parking lot and has removed deadbolts on back doors at the request of the fire marshal.
He refused to say whether he would appeal the decision.
Sheila Ward, who lives in an apartment next to the bar’s parking lot, said: “I’m very happy with the vote. My main concern was not closing the bar but to get the bar to respect the neighbors.”
City Atty. Thomas Kathe said that if Zeimer doesn’t appeal to the City Council, the city could eventually shut down the bar.
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