NEWPORT BEACH : Wine-Tasting Shop, Takeout Permit OKd

The Planning Commission approved plans for a beer- and wine-tasting shop in Lido Village and extended an operating permit for a takeout restaurant on Balboa Island in two separate actions last week.

The wine- and beer-tasting shop will not operate as a restaurant but will offer samples of its stock of domestic and imported spirits to interested patrons. It is set to open at 3431 Via Oporto, between Via Lido and Central Avenue in the Village.

In the second action, an operating permit for Island Yogurt Works on Balboa Island was reviewed after a request by city planners, who wanted to ensure that the business was operating up to code after nearby residents expressed concerns that it was violating the permit.

Some residents had claimed earlier this year that the takeout fast food and ice cream shop was operating past its closing time of 10 p.m., and others said customers were illegally using a nearby alley for parking.

But a code-enforcement review of the business said that it had been closing on time and that its owners had placed “no parking” signs in the alleyway.

Additionally, the owners presented commissioners with letters from neighbors in the residential area who said they are now satisfied with the shop’s operation. No residents spoke against the business at the meeting.