Planning commission approves permanent patio for Seoul with earlier outdoor hours and one‑year review

The Newport Beach Planning Commission approved a proposal May 21 to make the detached patio at Seoul (251 East Coast Highway) permanent, while tightening several conditions aimed at reducing noise for nearby residences.

Liz Westmoreland, the city’s principal planner, told commissioners the application seeks only to retain the detached patio and keep existing interior hours and live‑entertainment privileges. Staff recommended limiting amplified outdoor sound to 8 p.m., requiring a retractable awning and a barrier on the detached patio, and conducting a one‑year compliance review by the community development director.

The commission’s discussion centered on aligning hours to reduce cross‑bay noise. Neighbors said the patio’s sound carries to Linda Isle and that some residents who expected an earlier review were not notified in time. “Our quiet enjoyment’s gone,” said resident Leanne Benvenuti, who said she and neighbors recalled prior instructions that outdoor music end at 8 p.m. and the patio close at 9 p.m.

Commissioners and staff corrected a drafting typo in the conditions (referencing a noise partition/wall) and agreed to change the conditions so that outdoor amplified sound ends at 8 p.m., retractable awning closure aligns with that cutoff, and doors and windows must be closed by 10 p.m. The applicant’s representative, Gary Wiggle of Kaiser & Veil Architects, said the applicant concurred with staff and would accept the revisions. The applicant also confirmed an operator license requirement and staff said the project remains subject to the city noise ordinance and code enforcement.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the coastal development permit and conditional‑use conditions as revised, with a one‑year review to evaluate effectiveness and allow staff to refer unresolved issues back to the commission. The action makes the detached patio permanent but preserves enforcement tools if residents report violations.

A note on reported parking figures: in the staff presentation the project was described as requiring 65 parking spaces while also listing 16 on‑site and 50 off‑site spaces; those figures are inconsistent in the transcript. Staff advised that historic off‑site parking at the Balboa Marina lot is part of the project’s parking strategy and that operator licensing provides an enforcement pathway if issues arise.

The commission moved on after the unanimous vote; staff told residents the one‑year review could return the item to the commission for modifications if noise or compliance problems persist.