City approves Little Fish Theatre entertainment permit and waives bond for small indoor venue

The City Council approved a Level 2 entertainment permit that allows Little Fish Theatre to operate a small, indoor performance venue in an existing basement space at 514 North Prospect Avenue (part of a multi‑tenant community medical campus). Shakespeare by the Sea will use part of the facility seasonally for fundraising and administrative functions.

Senior planner Steven Jang summarized the site conditions and the planning commission’s prior conditional‑use approval. The proposed theater footprint is roughly 8,861 square feet with temporary seating planned for up to 98 guests and a small raised stage. Staff presented a parking study showing the Health District campus has 812 on‑site spaces, with a large evening surplus; staff reported a surplus of roughly 700 spaces by the time evening performances would begin.

Applicants and artistic directors Suzanne Dean and Stephanie Coltrane described the nonprofit’s history, past San Pedro operations, the loss of their prior venue and plans for programming in Redondo Beach; they said Little Fish and Shakespeare by the Sea are complementary programs and that admission policies and program scale are small and locally oriented.

The applicant requested that the council waive the $1,500 performance‑bond requirement that the city uses to cover extraordinary law‑enforcement/public‑safety costs. Staff said the bond is a deposit (not a revenue source) and that the city did not foresee the same public‑safety risk here as it would for a late‑night music venue that sells alcohol. Councilmembers praised the cultural benefit; the council voted to approve the entertainment permit and to waive the bond.

Staff will finalize required permits and administrative steps to allow the nonprofit to begin performances, and will schedule follow‑up as needed to monitor operations and any public‑safety impacts.