Manhattan Beach's Planning Commission will consider whether to let Parakeet Café expand into more of its building at 1140 Highland Ave.

The café also wants to legalize a small addition that was built without a permit. The public hearing is one of two scheduled for the commission's Wednesday, Oct. 28, meeting at 3 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The second hearing concerns zoning text amendments that would raise building height limits at two city-owned downtown properties central to the city's Project Pulse redevelopment effort.

Parakeet Café use permit

The café's application asks for a use permit amendment to expand an existing eating and drinking establishment within the building, according to the commission's agenda. The request also covers legalizing a small unpermitted expansion to the structure. Staff recommends the commission adopt a resolution and has determined the project is categorically exempt from further review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

An Accardo Real Estate blog post published Oct. 8 listed the Parakeet Café location, in the former Cafe Altamura space on Highland Avenue, as "delayed, no opening date."

Eating and drinking establishments in Manhattan Beach's downtown zone require a use permit. A new restaurant can sometimes operate under a previous tenant's entitlements if it occupies the same type and size of space, the blog noted, but changes such as expanded square footage trigger a new hearing.

Height limit amendments for Project Pulse sites

The second public hearing addresses proposed minor zoning text amendments to the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code and the Local Coastal Program. The changes would affect building height limits at 1155 Morningside Drive, known as Parking Lot 3, and 400 Manhattan Beach Blvd., the former U.S. Bank building.

Both properties are city-owned. They sit at the center of Project Pulse, the city's plan to redevelop two downtown parcels. A city presentation from August described a potential height increase from 26 feet to 30 feet at the sites, matching the height allowed at the nearby Metlox development.

The city purchased the former U.S. Bank building on April 15, 2025, for $13 million, according to the presentation. The old Parking Lot 3 structure, a three-level garage with 145 spaces built in the 1970s, was demolished in November 2024. An interim 69-space surface lot opened in June 2025.

The Planning Commission held a study session on the height increase on Aug. 12. The City Council discussed Project Pulse on Sept. 15. On March 17, the council approved a $160,000 contract with architecture firm Gensler for design and public engagement work on the project.

Easy Reader News reported in September that the council decided to prioritize the former bank site at 400 Manhattan Beach Blvd. after restaurateur Mike Zislis, who owns Shade Hotel on Valley Drive, argued the two proposed redevelopments were too much to consider at once.

How to weigh in

The Oct. 28 agenda also includes a midyear status update on multi-family housing projects, listed as a receive-and-file item.

Community Development Director Masa Alkire posted the agenda on Oct. 20. Chair Rachel Hackett will preside, joined by Vice Chair Kristin Sistos and commissioners Dina Treyger, Jill Schecter and Robert Siemak.

Residents can attend in person or via Zoom. Written comments are due by noon on Oct. 28 and can be submitted through the city's eComment portal or by email to [email protected].

The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m.