City Commission approves Sunset Mirage restaurant/bar use and valet restriction

The City Commission voted March 25 to approve a staff-recommended use approval for a restaurant-bar called Sunset Mirage at 2121 West Oakland Park Boulevard, Unit 4.

Assistant City Manager Sierra Marrero told commissioners the application met the master business list and technical criteria; the proposed bar area is 190 square feet, 17.7% of the overall customer-service area, under the 25% limit for a permitted bar. Marrero said the Development Review Committee approved the project and that the owners had held neighborhood participation meetings. The site is part of a 3.11-acre plaza with 117 shared parking spaces and a requirement that at least 18 spaces be dedicated to the restaurant use.

Commissioners and residents focused questions on parking mitigation. Marrero and the applicant said a valet plan filed with the application would allow double-stacking or use of over-striped spaces to meet the parking requirement. Architect Sandra Puerta and an applicant representative confirmed hours of operation aimed for midnight on Friday and Saturday and 10 p.m. other nights. The owner representative said the business has not yet obtained a 4OC (full liquor) license and would not operate as a full-liquor bar until that license was secured.

Commissioner Lonergan moved to approve the use permission subject to the conditions in the development order; the motion included an amendment that valet parking be located so it does not interfere with other businesses and that the bar not serve full liquor until a valid 4OC license is in hand. The motion passed on roll call (unanimous yes among commissioners present).