Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
Yesterday, a three-judge panel of California’s 4th District Court of Appeal reversed the lower court’s judgment and reinstated the city Planning Commission’s approval of dancing and extended patio hours at Woody’s Wharf.
Yes– we have won, yet again.
The Previous City Council had banned the practice when a new development began being built next door. A source that asked us to withhold their name told me “It’s obvious that the new building going up next door is trying to push out the restaurant in order to buy the land”– something that seemed to be a universal opinion, judging by the head-nods occurring around the conversation.
Normally, when a business wants to go through a new-permissions process, they must go to the Planning Commission, then to the City Council. That’s what Woody’s did. The problem is that Mike Henn– former councilperson in District 1– decided that he wanted to revisit the vote. City code says that a vote may only be revisited if it is brought up by a “concerned party”. Henn insisted that he was a concerned party. Woody’s lawyers said that if Henn was a concerned party, then he must also recuse himself from the vote, as it would be a conflict of interest. Henn refused to recuse himself, and refused to drop the reconsideration motion.
Thus, the court found him in violation of the law, thereby restoring the original verdict, and dancing in Woody’s Wharf.
That’s the long story. The short story is this: We’ve got dancing back, and normal business hours are restored for Woody’s Wharf. If you want to cut a rug tonight– feel free to do so. By boat, car, or bicycle, head on over to one of the most classic spots in Balboa. Woody’s Wharf is back.
