Rezoning to allow new restaurant in Miramar

Posted on February 5, 2016 By Editor Articles, San Jose, San Marco, St. Nicholas

The building located at 4578 San Jose Blvd. has been rezoned and may become home to a small restaurant or juice bar.

A former Miramar martial arts training studio may soon be converted into a new restaurant.

As of Jan. 12, property owned by the Shops of Granada LLC located at 4578 San Jose Blvd. across from the Miramar Shopping Center has been rezoned so that it may accommodate a small restaurant or juice bar.

On Nov. 10, 2015, District 5 Councilwoman Lori Boyer submitted Ordinance 2015-774 requesting the rezoning of the property in order to enlarge its commercial use to include a small restaurant with several stipulations.

Understanding residents would be concerned about noise, dumpsters and parking, Boyer inserted several conditions: The restaurant will not be allowed to inhabit more than half of the existing 2,500 square-foot building, and there can be no expansion to the building; a six-foot to 10-foot stucco wall must remain and be maintained between the building and the residences surrounding it; no dumpster may be placed near the residences; dumpsters, which are positioned alongside the building or in the front or the building must be screened so they cannot be seen from the street. In addition, the restaurant will not be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages and must close by 10 p.m. Although modest outdoor seating will be permitted, no outdoor amplified music is allowed and the outdoor seating must close down at 7 p.m.

“We want to keep it as a place for very modest restaurant use,” said Boyer. “With these conditions it’s a reasonable use of the property that may actually serve as a benefit to the community.”

No residents spoke against the rezoning during public hearings Dec. 8 and Jan. 5, said Boyer. Only one resident from an adjacent neighborhood, Michael Ayub, attended the public hearing before the Planning Commission and Land Use and Zoning Jan. 5, but declined to speak about the project.

After the meeting, Ayub said he was pleased with the way the ordinance was written.

“At first I was a bit concerned with the rezoning because I wasn’t sure how many new permissible uses they would be requesting and wanted to make sure that, on behalf of my neighbors and myself, we would not be disturbed greatly by any possible new tenants,” said Ayub in an email. “Many of my concerns revolved around the garbage and the noise because I share a wall with the business. I was very pleased with Lori’s work as I believe she was integral in making sure that the residents’ interests came first with respect to the rezoning. I was happy to hear the dumpster would have to be on the front of the building and that only half of the building could be used as a restaurant along with all the other restrictions involved with the rezoning,” he said.

“I would love to see a great little café or bakery in that spot as I would be very close and can take full advantage of it,” Ayub continued. “I am definitely all for seeing San Marco grow and develop as a very pedestrian-friendly community, and I believe we are definitely moving in that direction. With wonderful people like Lori looking out for the residents, I know we will build a great community that offers its residents great shopping and dining options close by while still maintaining the peace and tranquility of our neighborhoods.”