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Council approves two‑story expansion at El Tapatio, allows 25% parking reduction
Summary
The City Council approved Use Permit 23‑0045 for a two‑story addition to El Tapatio Catering at 667 Silver Strand Blvd., including a 1,000 sq ft ground‑floor expansion, an 1,800 sq ft second floor and a 25% parking reduction allowed for vertical mixed use. Staff recommended approval; council voted unanimously.
Senior Planner Lisa Edwards presented Use Permit 23‑0045 and associated design review materials for El Tapatio Catering on Sept. 3. The proposal expands an existing one‑story catering kitchen and coffee shop by approximately 1,000 square feet on the ground floor, adds an 1,800‑square‑foot second floor for office space and employee facilities, and incorporates a covered on‑site garage stall. The architect proposed a modern coastal contemporary design with a 29‑foot‑5‑inch top height (below the 30‑foot limit in the CMU‑2 zone).
Edwards said the project qualifies for a CEQA categorical exemption and noted the design review board’s comments and the applicant’s responses, including plant selections and cost‑sensitive adjustments. The parcel lies in the Seacoast Mixed Use (CMU‑2) zone and, per section 19.48.035, requires 1 space per 1,000 sq ft of commercial area; staff said the vertical mixed‑use provision permits a 25% parking reduction and that the proposed configuration (four spaces) meets the code allowance.
Public commenters included a nearby business owner who supported the project and neighbor comments noting the design and potential future construction impacts. The council discussed the project’s compatibility with surrounding uses and mural preservation on an adjacent wall; staff said landscaping details could be coordinated to avoid covering an existing mural.
Councilmember Fisher and others praised the business’s local investment and family ownership. The council approved the use permit and related design review actions by unanimous vote. No additional conditions beyond the standard design review and building requirements were added at the hearing.
