Owner of 19th street club seeking live music permit
The Costa Mesa Planning Commission will consider on Monday the musical fate of a 19th Street bar and nightclub that operated for about a month without the necessary city permits.
Maison opened in Costa Mesa at 719 W. 19th Street — the spot previously known as Lion’s Den — in late February, according to the venue’s Facebook page. At least four bands performed through the beginning of March, and several other musical acts were booked through May. However, owner Roland Barrera, did not have the necessary permits to operate live acts at Maison.
The commission will decide Monday whether or not to issue Maison a live entertainment permit.
Live music wasn’t the only problem at Maison. When city officials inspected the venue in March after nearby residents complained about “around the clock” construction at the venue, they found problems with the building and closed it until further notice. The city fined Maison $1,050 for seven violations based on noncompliance with various building, fire and life safety codes.
Problems included a single entry and exit door instead of two, a missing knob on a restroom door, no exit signs, tripping hazards, an unfinished floor and problems with the club’s lighting, staff said at the time.
Two days after the initial inspection, the city red-flagged the venue, shutting it down until Barrera came into compliance with building codes and obtained the permits and inspections needed to operate in the city.
The Planning Commission will review Barrera’s request to operate as a live music venue in his 4,200-square-foot space past 11 p.m. within 200 feet of homes. The club proposes to host jazz trios, solo performers and four- to seven-piece brass bands. Maison’s proposed hours are from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
The location previously had a public entertainment permit, which allowed DJs and dancing at the venue, but not live music. However, the permit expired in April, according to city documents.
Once the establishment is allowed to reopen, Barrera plans to renew the permit, according to the staff report.
However, Barrera must still jump through a few hoops to reopen his club.
Staff is requesting that he submit construction plans for the interior of the restaurant to the Building Safety Division and obtain building safety and fire prevention permits. Once the permits have been issued, the venue must undergo building inspections, the staff report states.
“The establishment cannot reopen to the public as a venue with live entertainment until all of the above items have been approved,” the staff report states. “However, the business may resume as a cocktail bar with a DJ/dancing once the building/fire safety issues are rectified…”
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Farmers Market
The Planning Commission will also consider a permit that would allow a church, which operates in Costa Mesa’s Eastside, to host a farmers market on Saturdays.
St. John the Devine Episcopal Church, located at 183 East Bay Street, is hoping to operate a farmer’s market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays in the church parking lot.
“According to the [church], the farmer’s market would support local, independent, and small-scale farmers and artisans selling high quality fruits, vegetables and other products,” the staff report states.
The church intends to expand the parking lot to add 34 additional spaces, which would accommodate 15 vendors each weekend.
The Planning Commission meeting begins Monday at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 77 Fair Drive.