Title
THE NICE GUY RESTAURANT (PA2025-0252)
Site Location: 2607 West Coast Highway
Recommendation
Summary:
A request for a conditional use permit (CUP) to renovate an existing 5,260-square-foot restaurant space on the waterfront, formerly occupied by GuacAmigos, and operate a restaurant known as The Nice Guy with a Type 47 (On-Sale General - Eating Place) Alcoholic Beverage Control license, late hour operations, and live entertainment. Proposed hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday. A CUP is required to authorize a restaurant with alcohol service and late hour operations (defined by the Newport Beach Municipal Code as service provided after 11 p.m.). If this CUP is approved, the restaurant operator will be required to obtain an operator license from the Newport Beach Police Department, as they intend to offer alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption in conjunction with late hour operations and live entertainment. No dancing is proposed. Approval of the project will also supersede the Minor Use Permit filed as PA2023-0119 and Staff Approval No. SA2018-010.
Recommended Actions:
1. Conduct a public hearing;
2. Find this project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 under Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment and the exceptions to this Exemption do not apply; and
3. Adopt Resolution No. PC2026-005 approving the Conditional Use Permit filed as PA2025-0252.