Zinc Cafe granted wish for extended hours

June Casagrande

Trying to balance parking concerns of some residents with others’

pleas for support of a local business, the City Council on Tuesday

agreed to let the Zinc Cafe open for dinner despite a current

shortage of parking at the restaurant.

When Zinc came to town two years ago, Planning Commissioners

decided to waive a requirement for what they said were 18 needed

parking spaces to support the restaurant. Their thinking was that,

because the place was only open for breakfast and lunch, it wouldn’t

add much to the crunch for peak-hour parking.

But weekday business hasn’t been what owner John Secretan hoped.

So, earlier this year, he applied to extend the restaurant’s hours

from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. and begin selling beer and wine. The retail

market portion of Zinc Cafe now stays open until 10 p.m.

“This location in Corona del Mar does not have the morning and

afternoon business that my other locations have,” Secretan told

council members, referring to Zinc Cafes in Laguna Beach and Solana

Beach.

The council’s job was to determine whether the Planning Commission

made the right decision in partially granting Secretan’s request by

extending hours until 8 p.m. and allowing the beer and wine sales.

The commission ruled that the last seating should be at 8 p.m. and

that all customers must be out of the restaurant by 8:30 p.m.

“I think we’re getting into a very dangerous area when we’re

giving away 18 parking space in an area like Corona del Mar,” said

Councilman Steve Bromberg, who said he supported the restaurant’s

request but with reservations.

Several community members came out in support of the restaurant,

arguing that it makes an invaluable contribution to the village of

Corona del Mar.

“This is a wonderful establishment and I think the community is

absolutely benefited by it,” said Corona del Mar resident Mel

Feldman.

Two community members who disagreed, including Robert Green,

pointed out that they were not alone. “You do have a petition before

you from 28 people who oppose this request,” Green said of the group

of neighbors from Larkspur, Marguerite and Second avenues in

opposition.

Council members who supported Zinc’s request worried that, when

and if Zinc leaves, a new business taking advantage of the parking

waiver might be more detrimental to the community. City Atty. Robert

Burnham assured council members that the permissions granted to Zinc

could be custom-tailored in a way that would prevent future

businesses at that location from taking advantage of the rules to the

further detriment of neighbors.

Comforted by this reassurance, the council voted unanimously to

support the Planning Commission’s decision.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.