Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
This Tuesday, the Village Inn on Balboa Island will be going in front of council after a battle that has cost them nearly two years just trying to get through red-tape in our beautiful city which is being run by those who proclaim to be small-government types. They want to exchange part of an existing wall for a set of patio doors and open up the patio to the outside, allowing patrons to enjoy our beautiful weather while still grabbing a bite to eat. The setup would be an open-air dining experience similar to what Wilma’s Patio and Amelia’s already has. Heck, even the frozen yogurt shop Tutti Frutti has outside benches for eating.
The problem, however, lies not with the next-door neighbor (who supports the plan), but with neighbors even further away. They say that the noise from Balboa’s most famous establishment is unbearable. Curiously, they only began complaining when the plans to expand came around– and each time when inspectors came out to measure the sound, they found the complaints to be completely without merit. After this happened several times, the people who oppose personal property rights began complaining about all kinds of other violations, prompting the city of Newport to send in secret inspectors at taxpayer expense at random times, and time after time, 100% of the time, they found the complaints to be completely without merit. In fact, the Village Inn has not had one single violation, with city staff even making note of it, stating “no violations warranting issuances of a citation have been identified to date.”
Finally, the Village Inn won what would normally be the final battle in attempting to give their longtime establishment a facelift: They passed the Planning Commission. However, the ringleader of the anti-property-rights group, Mike Sullivan, appealed the decision, so now it has to go to City Council for a final hearing. Remember, this is happening in the same city that attempted to ban dancing and music from Woody’s under similar circumstances and also attempted to shut down bars and restaurants at 11pm– so your voice is very much needed here. I’ll be there in a button down shirt and slacks. Keep it civil, polite, but passionate. Talk about your positive experiences there, the enjoyment of open-air dining, and of course, the right of a property owner to build on their own land, as it is that last one which I expect will really resonate with the council.
This aging yet iconic establishment could really use your help. The City Council meeting starts at 7pm Tuesday and is located at 100 Civic Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660. If you are unable to attend, please email the city council instead, at citycouncil@newportbeachca.gov and let them know your thoughts on this subject.
Please share this with your friends, as time is of the essence here.
