NEWPORT BEACH : Commission Checks Two Business Plans

Two businesses that have had past problems with city regulations have won approval or conditional permission to improve their operations from the city’s Planning Commission.

The first was Del Taco at 2101 Bristol St., between Irvine Avenue and Birch Street, which had sought permission to expand.

The other was the Newport Auto Spa, a hand car wash at 1200 W. Coast Highway, which needed to demonstrate compliance with parking and noise regulations to maintain a permit for food sales.

The Del Taco restaurant, at the same site since 1971, sought approval to expand its indoor dining area and reconstruct the kitchen. That miffed at least two commissioners, because the application revealed that the chain 10 years ago had installed a patio and eliminated a turnaround lane at the front of the building without permission.

“I don’t like rewarding somebody for openly violating the zoning ordinance,” Commissioner Tod Ridgeway said.

Planners recommended against the remodel because they believe it would reduce the restaurant’s parking too much to accommodate the increased seating, thus causing traffic and parking problems.

Architect Kenneth Carrell said the design change will help workers make food faster and speed customers on their way. He said 85% of the site’s business is drive-through.

Ridgeway and Commissioner Gary Adams, who also found the violation disconcerting, voted along with the other three commissioners to allow the change because it would not have a major effect on traffic on Bristol, which is adjacent to the Corona del Mar Freeway.

Car wash owner Warren Levy won permission in November to sell packaged food and soft drinks at the business, conditioned on Thursday’s review to make sure outdoor speakers were removed, landscaping installed to screen the operation and parking problems were resolved.

Levy told the commission he had met all conditions except finalizing parking arrangements for employees, and that he expects to have a deal by next week to van-pool them to and from a church parking lot.

The commission voted 5 to 0 to postpone action until another review April 20.