The Manhattan Beach Planning Commission will weigh a proposal that would let Parakeet Café expand into a former retail space at 1140 Highland Ave. The plan also asks the city to legalize a small addition that a previous tenant built without permits. City staff recommend approval, subject to conditions.
What the Commission Is Considering
The Planning Commission is scheduled to review the application at its Oct. 28 meeting. The site was formerly occupied by Un Caffè Altamura. According to the staff report, the request would convert the former retail area into restaurant space and renovate the interior. It would also legalize a 75-square-foot addition on the southern side of the building, next to Center Place.
City documents show the premises were previously 1,997 square feet, with 1,164 square feet used for restaurant service and 833 square feet designated for retail. Under the proposal, the entire space would become restaurant use, bringing the total to 2,072 square feet.
Planned Changes to the Space
The renovation plans include an expanded dining area, new kitchen facilities, remodeled bathrooms, additional storage, a walk-in cooler and a new trash enclosure. Renderings submitted with the application show patterned flooring, pink ceilings, decorative wall treatments, greenery and a redesigned service counter.
Unpermitted Work and Zoning Limits
Planning staff determined that the unpermitted addition and the earlier shift to restaurant use were carried out by the previous tenant, not Parakeet Café. The applicant is now seeking the approvals and building permits needed to bring the property into compliance.
Staff concluded that the project fits within development standards. The maximum permitted building floor area is 6,750 square feet, and the proposed total is 5,970 square feet. The city also found no required increase in parking, which remains at five spaces, and said the surrounding properties are commercial rather than residential.
What Stays the Same and What Comes Next
The application does not change the existing operating hours, which allow the restaurant to open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It also does not expand the current Type 41 beer and wine authorization.
If commissioners approve the amendment, the café would still need building permits and completed improvements before opening. The city's materials do not specify an opening date. The meeting begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in City Council Chambers at 1400 Highland Ave., with remote participation available.