Planning commission approves alcohol‑service reclassification for Corona del Mar restaurant with parking waiver

The Newport Beach Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit and coastal development permit on April 2 to allow Konpai Nikke, a fusion Peruvian–sushi restaurant at 3333 East Coast Highway, to operate as a full‑service restaurant under an ABC type 41/47 license.

Senior Planner Jocelyn Perez told commissioners the 700‑square‑foot restaurant opened in July 2025 as a takeout/fast‑casual operation with six seats and off‑site shared parking in the Maragold lot to the rear. Converting the business from takeout to a full‑service restaurant increases the parking requirement (from one space per 250 square feet to one per 100), creating a four‑space deficit that the commission considered for a parking waiver. Perez said traffic counts conducted by the applicant’s consultant during the grand‑opening period and repeated in January “confirmed the same conclusion that there is always available parking nearby.”

Staff said the city traffic engineer reviewed and accepted the parking analysis and that the Newport Beach Police Department provided conditions of approval. Notable conditions highlighted in the staff presentation included earlier closing hours, a prohibition on live entertainment or dancing, and no outdoor paging systems to reduce disruption to nearby residences.

Local resident Jim Roer urged caution, saying alcohol service could increase demand beyond what the counts showed: “I would expect the parking demand might be a little bit higher than was surveyed,” he told the commission.

The applicant did not request changes to the recommended conditions and the commission approved the permit with minor edits to conditions that staff had proposed. The commission’s vote was recorded as carrying unanimously.