Esperanza restaurant's push to make its extended late-night hours permanent went before the Manhattan Beach Planning Commission on Wednesday, July 8. The commission also took up a package of zoning code amendments affecting future development reviews citywide.
Both items were public hearings at the 3:00 p.m. meeting in City Council Chambers. Official vote outcomes have not been posted; the city is expected to publish minutes to manhattanbeach.gov before the next regular meeting on Wednesday, July 22.
Three meetings, one question
The Esperanza hearing at 309 Manhattan Beach Boulevard (case PC 26-0038) marked the third consecutive meeting the commission has considered the restaurant's operating conditions. The item first appeared June 10 as a one-year review, was continued to June 24, and carried over again to July 8.
The question: whether trial hours the commission approved unanimously on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, become permanent. That 5-0 vote allowed the second-floor indoor space to stay open until 2:00 a.m. and the outdoor patio until 11:00 p.m., seven days a week, for 12 months from the start of operations. Owner Gary Newman and vice president of operations Jordan Cressman secured the expansion, which added second-story outdoor dining with alcohol and live entertainment to the downtown boulevard location.
Building permits for the project were issued by Wednesday, April 9, 2025, according to Planning Manager Adam Finestone's update at that meeting. A police Calls for Service list was included in the June 10 review packet, indicating the commission has been weighing noise and public-safety data alongside the business case.
Once the commission's decision is made public, it will determine whether those trial hours replace the restaurant's original, more restrictive conditions or revert.
Zoning code amendments
The second hearing involved omnibus zone text amendments (case PC 26-0041) to the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program. According to the agenda, the amendments aim to clarify existing regulations, ensure internal consistency, and align with current state law. Draft resolutions, redline code amendments, and diagrams were included in the staff packet. The specific provisions being changed have not been detailed publicly beyond the agenda description.
Who presided
Chair Rachel Hackett presided. Vice Chair Kristin Sistos joined via Zoom. Commissioners Dina Treyger, Jill Schecter, and Robert Siemak completed the panel. Community Development Director Masa Alkire and Planning Manager Adam Finestone staffed the meeting.
The commission's next regular meeting is Wednesday, July 22, at 3:00 p.m. Residents can submit comments by emailing [email protected] or calling (310) 802-5520.
