Rooftop Restaurant Gets One Last Chance for Approval

Tonight is the last chance for the proprietor behind the North Beach Rooftop Bar and Grill to get his controversial restaurant approved.

Dave Gutierrez proposes to convert a one-story commercial building at 1509 N. El Camino Real in North Beach into a 126-seat restaurant – with 51 of those seats being up on the roof.

In August, the San Clemente Planning Commission rejected the plans, citing concerns about noise and lack of convenient and safe parking.

Tonight, the San Clemente City Council will hear Gutierrez’s appeal.

“The city of San Clemente Planning Commission acted arbitrarily and capriciously.… The Planning Commission denials were illogically based on the assumptions that the proposed project had not met city General Plan policy nor existing Municipal Code requirements,” Gutierrez wrote in his appeal letter.

A report to council says the applicant does have the right to build a restaurant much more limited in scope, with no live music, no alcohol and chairs for 35 people inside, 16 out.

City staffers are recommending denial of the project as presented, although they’re OK with the signage.

The City Council meets at 6 tonight at City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio in San Clemente.