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Planning Commission approves California Pizza Kitchen design review, extends alcohol hours to 11 p.m.
Summary
The Encinitas Planning Commission approved a design review permit and a minor use permit for a California Pizza Kitchen at Encinitas Village Square, allowing a Type 47 alcohol license with outdoor patio service until 11 p.m.; the commission also continued two unrelated items to future meetings.
The Encinitas Planning Commission on the evening of the meeting approved a design review permit and a minor use permit for a California Pizza Kitchen at 1476 Encinitas Boulevard, authorizing a Type 47 on-site alcohol license and outdoor patio service until 11 p.m.
Planning staff member Charlotte Brenner introduced the proposal, saying the restaurant site is within the Encinitas Village Square Shopping Center and is zoned general commercial. Brenner described the project’s layout, saying the indoor dining area is 1,452 square feet (including a proposed 220-square-foot indoor bar) and the outdoor patio is 432 square feet with eight fixed tables and 18 fixed seats; when roll-up doors are open the patio would accommodate six additional bar seats. Brenner also said outdoor patio music would end at 10 p.m. and that the nearest residence is about 500 feet away.
Applicant representative Bridal Engstrom described California Pizza Kitchen as a “family oriented business” with an established record of compliance and said the Type 47 license would be ancillary to food service. “The sale of alcohol will remain ancillary to food preparation and meal service,” Engstrom said. She added that CPK operates more than 200 locations nationwide and cited a Pasadena location as an example.
One member of the public, Molly Hintlin, spoke in opposition to the proposed alcohol hours. “My only concern is the hours that it’s serving alcohol till 11:00 at night, and the other area restaurants cannot serve that late,” Hintlin said, calling the proposed hour “disproportionate” to other offerings in the plaza.
Commissioners deliberated and discussed local comparables: Commissioner Brent said the extra hour “seems to fit in with the general district” and noted other nearby establishments with later hours; Commissioner Susan said she supported the project and emphasized the condition prohibiting live music after 10 p.m. as an important mitigation since she lives nearby. A motion to approve the design review and minor use permit passed 3-0, with two commissioners absent.
Votes at a glance — Design review permit and minor use permit for California Pizza Kitchen (Case No. Multi0076882024): approved 3-0; no recorded individual vote names in the transcript; two commissioners were absent.
The project will require separate sign permits and the applicant must comply with the conditions included in the resolution of approval, including the prohibition on outdoor live entertainment after 10 p.m. The staff report concluded the proposed façade changes, materials and pedestrian improvements are consistent with the Encinitas General Plan, the Encinitas Municipal Code and the city’s design review guidelines.
Also at the meeting the commission approved two continuances: the Sage Canyon/Sage Creek apartments item was continued to the Sept. 4 meeting so staff can complete a report, and an unrelated item (8b) was continued to the Aug. 21 planning commission meeting per the applicant’s request. The commission adjourned to its next regular meeting on Aug. 21.
