Plan commission approves Poke Bay zoning permit for 6515 Manila Drive

The Monona Plan Commission voted to approve a zoning permit for Poke Bay to open a Hawaiian poke restaurant at 6515 Manila Drive, Unit 14 (case 2212025). The motion passed after staff described the proposal and commissioners discussed parking and operations.

Doug, a city planner presenting the application, described the business as "a new, Hawaiian pokeball restaurant, fast casual restaurant" in a 1,400-square-foot space that would be "primarily takeout with limited dine in seating, 10 to 12 seats." He said the proposed hours are 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and that the change from a vacancy to a restaurant triggers the zoning-permit review.

Commissioners focused on parking logistics for a grab-and-go operation. Doug explained that under code, 10–12 seats require four parking stalls and that the applicant expects to employ 2–4 staff and see an estimated 44–70 visitors daily; staff recommended a condition encouraging employees to park away from the premium short-term stalls nearest the storefront. Multiple commissioners said they welcomed the business to Monona and saw the proposal as a modest interior build-out with no exterior changes proposed.

A motion to approve the zoning permit with the staff-recommended conditions was moved, seconded and approved by the commission. The applicant was congratulated following the vote. The action records and staff report list the conditions that accompany the zoning permit approval; the commission did not add additional regulatory requirements beyond the conditions noted by staff.