NEWPORT BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION WRAP-UP

Here are some items the Planning Commission considered Monday.

Commissioners Michael Henn and Larry Tucker were absent.

HOAG TRAFFIC STUDY

The commission unanimously agreed to accept a traffic study that

showed no major effect from 130,000 square feet of outpatient

facilities to be added to Hoag Hospital’s lower campus. The new

facilities are expected to generate 2,400 car trips per day, but

those trips aren’t expected to significantly worsen traffic at 15

nearby intersections.

WHAT IT MEANS

The hospital can now build 130,000 square feet of new facilities

on the lower campus, which lies mainly along West Coast Highway. The

facilities should be finished by 2007.

CONDO CONVERSION

A request to turn an eight-unit apartment complex on Domingo Drive

into condos will be revisited at the next meeting, the commission

decided unanimously.

The owner has planned extensive renovations to the complex, and

city staff members suggest approval of the conversion, but through an

oversight, the city failed to notify tenants of the complex.

WHAT IT MEANS

The commission will hear the request to change Domingo Villas from

rental housing to condos at its Aug. 4 meeting.

RESTAURANT APPEAL

When the planning director allowed Salud Restaurant to change from

a take-out establishment to a full service restaurant and add a

second-story office, homeowner Nicholas Hamilton appealed, claiming

the restaurant wouldn’t have enough parking and would generate noise

and block ocean views.

In a multi-part decision, the commission approved the restaurant

expansion but also upheld Hamilton’s appeal by limiting the

restaurant’s hours, restricting employee parking and nixing the

second-story office addition.

WHAT IT MEANS

Salud restaurant can become a full-service restaurant with a

dining room and a bar, but it will be open until 10 p.m. rather than

11 p.m. and employees won’t be able to park on nearby streets.

IF YOU GO

* WHAT: Next Newport Beach Planning Commission meeting

* WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 4

* WHERE: City Council chambers, City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

* INFO: Call (949) 644-3200 or visit www.city.newport-beach.ca.us

-- Compiled by

Alicia Robinson