Panini Cafe gets nod to move

The Newport Beach Planning Commission has approved the Panini Cafe’s proposal to move to a new location on East Coast Highway, despite the protests of a number of neighbors who said the move would lead to traffic and alcohol problems in the area.

At Thursday’s commission meeting, which lasted until nearly midnight, the members voted 6-1 in favor of Panini’s application. The matter will go before the City Council if someone in the community appeals the decision, but otherwise, the restaurant is set to make its move.

The victory came after several weeks in which residents and business owners petitioned the city to keep the restaurant from moving. One petition described the stretch of East Coast Highway where Panini plans to move as “Alcohol Alley” and said another beer- and wine-serving business would cause problems. Another argued that the restaurant would worsen the block’s parking congestion.

By Thursday, the Planning Commission had received multiple copies of each petition, but the application went through regardless.

“The Planning Commission decision speaks for itself,” said Mike Rafipoor?, the restaurant’s chief executive officer. “Panini is a great service to the community.”

Rosalinh Ung, the city’s associate planner, said the commission approved the owners’ proposal with an added condition: that the members review the restaurant-use permit a year after the first day of operation. Ung said there were other minor changes made to the application, but she did not have the minutes of the meeting available yet.

Panini’s owners purchased the building on East Coast Highway recently vacated by the Orient Handel rug shop and needed Planning Commission approval to convert it into a restaurant. Surrounding the building are the Bungalow Restaurant, Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt and other dining locations.

Jim Walker, the owner of the Bungalow, was among those opposed to Panini’s move due to the traffic issue. His restaurant had an agreement to use the parking garage below Orient Handel while the rug shop was in business.

“I’m very disappointed in the outcome, but it is what it is,” Walker said.