A fine compromise for the community

Something a little unusual happened at a Newport Beach City Council

meeting earlier this month: Neighbors of a business came out to

support its getting extended hours.

Those who follow city hall business will know that typically

residents rally against any late-night hours, citing a variety of

potential burdens on them, whether restricted parking, unruly patrons

or noisy closings. They’ll complain that the business is a bad

neighbor and a detriment to the community.

Not so Corona del Mar’s Zinc Cafe. “This is a wonderful

establishment and I think the community is absolutely benefited by

it,” Mel Feldman, a Corona del Mar resident, said at the April 13

council meeting.

At issue was a request by Zinc’s owner, John Secretan, to allow

the breakfast and lunch spot to stay open later, largely because

daytime business has not quite met expectations. The Planning

Commission approved a compromise allowing the restaurant to seat

customers until 8 p.m. while ensuring the last one is out the door by

8:30 p.m. The council’s concern was that when the city approved the

restaurant’s opening, it waived a requirement for additional parking

because the daytime traffic was unlikely to spill over onto

neighboring streets. That remained a worry for 28 neighbors who

signed a petition urging the council to deny the request.

Caught between typical resident reluctance and the unusual

support, the council followed the commission by making the right

decision. In coming to this reasoned resolution, council members also

showed that they can consider a case on a particular basis -- not all

businesses will deserve the break in parking Zinc received, for

instance -- and judge its merits fairly.

That, too, absolutely benefits the community.