The Lake Forest City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a use permit allowing hookah smoking on a 300-square-foot outdoor patio at Oliva restaurant in Forest Plaza Center, subject to conditions intended to limit smoke impacts on neighboring businesses.

Staff presented the application and noted California law prohibits most indoor smoking in workplaces and that outdoor smoking is permitted for those 21 and older; the city has required use permits for hookah lounges since 2012. Ron Santos summarized that the patio holds up to 12 seats, no additional parking is required for outdoor dining under 16 seats, and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) recommended conditions for safe handling of coals and related fire-safety measures.

Neighbors Rudy and Emma Garcia, who operate an adjacent spa, opposed the permit at the hearing. Rudy Garcia said the patio was previously shared and is now used exclusively by the restaurant; he told commissioners, “And there's a lot of smoke.” He added the smoke had entered their business and said it could harm customers, noting his wife’s history of asthma.

The applicant's land-use consultant, Max Amari, told the commission staff had worked with the applicant and that the business proposed to operate hookah service from 5 p.m. to midnight daily. Amari said new industry equipment — an air suction device positioned above each umbrella — reduces detectable vapor and odor.

Commissioners discussed potential impacts on the adjacent nail salon and other tenants. Several commissioners expressed concern about overlapping hours and neighborhood compatibility and proposed additional conditions. The commission imposed the following key conditions before approval:

- Shift hookah service to begin at 7 p.m. daily (instead of the originally proposed 5 p.m.).
- Require installation of a smoke-collection/air-suction device at each patio table; devices must be installed, maintained and remain operational.
- Limit patio occupancy to a maximum of 12 patrons at any time (three tables, maximum four patrons per table).
- Require written confirmation from the property owner consenting to the use and conditions.

Santos said OCFA’s recommended conditions, focused on fire safety (safe handling of coals, ashes and hookah equipment), remain part of the approval. Commissioners noted there is no city code metric to quantify outdoor smoke or a simple enforcement metric; staff explained revocation of the use permit remains a possible remedy if findings for revocation (for example, repeated violation of conditions) can be demonstrated through a formal process.

After hearing public comment and deliberation, a commissioner moved to approve the use permit with the added conditions; the motion passed unanimously.

The permit legalizes a patio that staff confirmed had been constructed without permits and adds operational restrictions intended to reduce smoke impacts while allowing the restaurant to offer hookah service in the evenings.