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NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MINUTES
100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH
ZOOM
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024
REGULAR MEETING – 10:00 A.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m.
Staff Present (Remote): Benjamin M. Zdeba, AICP, Zoning Administrator
Daniel Kopshever, Assistant Planner
Jenny Tran, Associate Planner
Jerry Arregui, Assistant Planner
Laura Rodriguez, Planning Technician
II. REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCES
None.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
ITEM NO. 1 MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 27, 2024
Zoning Administrator Zdeba noted there had been no written comments submitted from the public regarding
the minutes and that no members of the public wished to speak.
Action: Approved
IV. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
ITEM NO. 2 Lido Bottle Works Minor Use Permit (PA2024-0145)
Site Location: 3408 Via Oporto, Suite 102 & 103 Council District 1
Jerry Arregui, Assistant Planner, provided a brief project description stating that a minor use permit is being
requested to upgrade an existing Type 41 Beer and Wine Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) License to a Type
47 ABC License for Beer, Wine, and Spirits. The request also includes a reduction in closing hour to 11:00
p.m., daily. All other operations will remain unchanged.
Lido Bottle Works Restaurant is in the Lido Marina Village and is within the Mixed-Use Water Zoning District.
He discussed the parking as being shared among the various tenants in the Lido Marina Village and treated
separately under a conditional use permit (CUP) with a parking management plan. The restaurant currently
operates under a CUP that was approved by the Planning Commission in 2016. The CUP allows for a Type 41
ABC License, a Type 20 Accessory Off-Sale Beer and Wine ABC License, an outdoor patio with ambient music,
and late hours operation (past 11:00 P.M.) with a closing hour of 12:30 a.m., daily. The Newport Beach
Municipal Code (NBMC) states that within the Mixed-Use Water District, restaurants with alcohol sales and
non-late hour operations with a closing hour of 11 p.m. or earlier are allowed with an approval of a minor use
permit (MUP). Restaurants with alcohol sales and with late hours operations past 11 p.m. are allowed with an
approval of a CUP. With the proposed hours of operations reduction to 11:00 p.m., a CUP is not required and
is instead eligible for an MUP.
Assistant Planner Arregui clarified the request does not include any construction, or changes to the floor area.
He added that the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) reviewed the project and has no objections to
the request. The NBPD sees the early closing hour of 11:00 p.m. as an appropriate tradeoff for the request
upgrade to a full alcohol license. The NBPD added recommended conditions of approval that have been
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR 12/12/2024
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incorporated in the draft resolution for the sale of alcohol. If the MUP is approved, the current CUP would be
superseded.
Zoning Administrator Zdeba opened the public hearing.
Applicant Rand Kruse, on behalf of the Property Owner, stated that he has reviewed the draft resolution and
agrees with all the required conditions.
Zoning Administrator Zdeba addressed written a public comment received regarding spelling of the applicant’s
last name and that it will be updated.
Seeing that no one from the public wished to comment, the public hearing was closed.
Action: Approved as amended
ITEM NO. 3 Tang Residence Modification Permit (PA2024-0187)
Site Location: 1935 Port Cardiff Place Council District 5
Daniel Kopshever, Assistant Planner, provided a brief project description stating that a modification permit is
being requested to allow the construction of 1,140-square-foot addition to an existing 2,508-square-foot single-
unit residence with nonconforming parking. The existing 476-square-foot attached garage is nonconforming
due to having a substandard depth of 19 feet and 9 inches of interior clear space where the requirement is 20
feet. Title 20 of the Newport Beach Municipal Code (NBMC) limits residential additions to 10% of the existing
gross floor area over a 10-year period when the residence has nonconforming parking.
The project site is in the Harbor View Hills Planned Community (PC-3) in the low-medium density residential
area, which allows for detached single-family residences. The surrounding neighborhood is developed with
one to two-story single unit dwellings. The project includes a bedroom, living room, pantry, and bathroom on
the first floor and a new balcony, laundry room, and bathroom alterations on the second floor. The addition
complies with the applicable development standards including height, setbacks, and lot coverage and is
compatible with the surrounding properties.
Assistant Planner Kopshever clarified that the subject property’s garage was compliant with all zoning
standards at the time of construction with a minimum depth of 18 feet. While it is currently substandard in depth
by 3 inches, the garage still provides two usable parking spaces. He added that the driveway in front of the
garage allows for additional on-site parking. The addition is not expected to create a demand for on-street
parking. The scope of work will not affect the existing garage. Increasing the scope to bring the garage to
compliance would require major structural alterations and significant cost with negligible benefit of 3 inches of
garage depth. In reducing the scope of work to 10%, the addition would only allow for a 250-square-foot
increase in floor area, which would not be of similar benefit to the applicant in comparison to the proposed
project.
In response to written public comments regarding the CEQA exemption declaration being missing from Section
4 of the resolution, Assistant Planner Kopshever stated that it will be added to the final resolution.
Zoning Administrator Zdeba opened the public hearing.
Property Owner John Tang stated that he had reviewed the draft resolution and agrees with all the required
conditions.
Seeing that no one from the public wished to comment, the public hearing was closed.
Action: Approved as amended
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NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR 12/12/2024
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ITEM NO. 4 Dexter River, LLC Residence Coastal Development Permit (PA2024-0095)
Site Location: 3910 and 3910 ½ River Avenue Council District 1
Laura Rodriguez, Planning Technician, provided a brief project description stating that a coastal development
permit is being requested to demolish an existing duplex and construct a new three story, 2,524-square-foot
single-unit dwelling with a 284-square-foot junior accessory dwelling unit and an attached 500-square-foot two-
car garage. The existing property is bisected with the City’s permitting jurisdiction and the California Coastal
Commission’s (CCC) jurisdiction. Any improvements within the CCC’s jurisdiction requires an approval in
concept from the City and separate authorization from the CCC. Improvements within the CCC’s jurisdiction
include the modification of the existing deck area, bulkhead, and several portions of site walls.
The property is located in the R-2 (Two-Unit Residential) Zoning District and Coastal Zoning District. The project
is compliant with all development standards of Title 20 and Title 21 of the Newport Beach Municipal Code
(NBMC). The project design is consistent with the neighborhood pattern.
Planning Technician Rodriguez stated that a Coastal Hazards Report and Sea Level Rise Analysis was
prepared by PMA Consulting on May 27, 2024. The project has been conditioned to raise the private bulkhead
to 10.9 feet (NAVD 88). According to the report, the bulkhead should be designed as adaptable to be raised to
14.4 feet (NAVD 88) if needed. The proposed finished floor elevation will be 9.13 feet (NAVD 88), which further
complies with the 9-foot minimum for new structures.
Planning Technician Rodriguez clarified that a water quality and hydrology plan is required due to the property’s
proximity to the shoreline and its location being adjacent to coastal waters. The Water Quality and Hydrology
Report was prepared by William D. Rolph on September 17, 2024.
The property is located between the nearest public road and sea. Public access is not impacted since the
project is replacing an existing duplex with a new single-unit dwelling and a junior accessory dwelling unit.
Therefore, there is no change in land use or density. The nearest coastal viewpoint is Newport Island Park
which is accessible to the public. The project will not obstruct views from the park since the property is not
located between the park and the bay. Vertical access is available at the end of 40th Street and 39th Street.
Lateral access is available at Channel Place Park which is a public beach that is approximately 786 feet
northwest of the property.
In response to written public comments, Planning Technician Rodriguez noted that a typo will be corrected in
the final resolution. The project is located in the appealable area of the Coastal Zone.
Zoning Administrator Zdeba opened the public hearing.
Applicant Nicole Thompson of Brandon Architects, on behalf of the Property Owner, stated that she had
reviewed the draft resolution and agrees with all the required conditions.
Seeing that no one from the public wished to comment, the public hearing was closed.
Action: Approved
ITEM NO. 5 122 Via Lido Nord, LLC Residence Coastal Development Permit (PA2024-0144)
Site Location: 122 Via Lido Nord Council District 1
Jenny Tran, Associate Planner, provided a brief project description stating that a coastal development permit
is being requested to demolish an existing single-unit dwelling and to construct a new single-unit dwelling and
two-car garage. The project includes raised decking, accessory structures, and raising an existing bulkhead.
Associate Planner Tran noted a spelling error and will be corrected in the final resolution.
The property is in Single-Unit Residential (R-1) Zoning District and will comply with development standards of
setbacks, open volume parking, and height. A Coastal Hazards and Bulkhead Conditions Report was prepared
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NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR 12/12/2024
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for the project. The project will comply with recommendations of raising the bulkhead to 10.9 feet (NAVD 88)
with adaptability to raise it in the future if necessary.
In response to written public comments regarding the roof plans, Associate Planner Tran clarified there is no
pool or fountain on the roof.
Zoning Administrator Zdeba opened the public hearing.
Applicant Stephen Wan of Olson Architects, on behalf of the Property Owner, stated that he had reviewed the
draft resolution and agrees with all the required conditions.
Seeing that no one from the public wished to comment, the public hearing was closed.
Action: Approved as amended
V. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
The hearing was adjourned at 10:19 a.m.
The agenda for the Zoning Administrator Hearing was posted on December 4, 2024, at 3:05 p.m. on
the digital display board located inside the vestibule of the Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center
Drive and on the City’s website on December 4, 2024, at 2:58 p.m.