La Costanera Restaurant Daytime Hours Considered

1977 State and County permits for the restaurant at south end of Montara Beach limit operations to 5PM until normal closing time, in order to share available public/private parking between beach users in the daytime and restaurant users in the evening. 

The County is processing an application to modify the restaurant’s Use Permit to allow Friday and weekend daytime hours (10AM – 2AM).  Environmental review documents (Revised Initial Study and Negative Declaration) for this project are now available for review. 

Public comment regarding the correctness, completeness, or adequacy of this Negative Declaration must be received by County Planning Dept no later than 5PM, March 31, 2014.  Contact person: Camille Leung, Project Planner, 650/363-1826.  The MCC March 12 agenda will include this item.

This Initial Study and Negative Declaration addresses the potential environmental impacts of the proposed expansion in operating hours, installation of exterior lights, signs, and patios, and grading, drainage and other improvements of the adjacent dirt parking area owned by State Parks.  

In addition to the County-issued Use Permit amendment, a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) amendment will be required directly from the CA Coastal Commission (CCC) for the project described above, as well as for the repair of existing drainage systems and riprap.  Until the CDP Amendment is granted by the CCC, the County Use Permit amendment would be considered inactive.  

The current planning application dates from 2006.
PLN2006-00494 MCC comments: 2012 letterpresentation2010 letter
Long-standing alleged Coastal Act violations - CCC, MCC
Petition for removal of beach floodlights

The restaurant was built in 1977 on the site of former 1950’s motel/restaurant, and was operated as The Chart House until 2002, followed by The Outrigger until 2004.
1977 Planning Commission staff report - Use Permit - parking exception
1977 CCC Coastal Development Permit P-77-579
1981 CCC denial of CDP amendment to allow Sunday 10AM opening 
1984 County CDP 83-67 for riprap

UPDATES:  MCC commentspresentation on the 2/27/14 Revised Initial Study & Neg Dec for La Costanera Use Permit Amendment.
3/19/14 comments from State Parks
12/18/13 CCC letter re permit application status
4/25/14 CCC letter re Violations