Summary
Planning Commission approves restaurant liquor permit and charter school
OrangeJul 7, 20262 min read
At a glance
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The Planning Commission approved two major land-use requests: a permit for beer, wine, and distilled spirits service at a new restaurant with outdoor seating at 237 W. Chapman Avenue, and a charter elementary school for up to 864 students at 1937 and 2011 W. Chapman Ave.
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What this means
The commission allowed a new restaurant at 237 W. Chapman Avenue to serve beer, wine, and distilled spirits for on-site consumption, but required that there be no bar or lounge area serving alcohol without food. It also approved a new charter elementary school for up to 864 students at 1937 and 2011 W. Chapman Ave., along with two new play areas on the site. For residents, this means both projects can move forward after the commission found each one exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act review cited in the minutes.
Key decisions
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- Approved Conditional Use Permit No. 25-0014 for on-site sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits at 237 W. Chapman Avenue with revised condition #22 prohibiting a bar or lounge area serving alcohol without food.
- Found the restaurant project categorically exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
- Approved Planning Application No. 25-0156, including Conditional Use Permit No. 25-0156 and Minor Site Plan Review No. 25-0156, for an 864-student charter elementary school at 1937 and 2011 W. Chapman Ave.
- Found the charter school project categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15301 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
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Meeting information
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Planning Commission
Jul 7, 2026, 12:30 AMCity Council Chamber
300 E. Chapman Avenue
Orange, CA 92866completed
5:30 PM Regular Session
Agenda
- Welcome to the Planning Commission meeting. Regular meetings of the City of Orange Planning Commission are held the first and third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
- Agenda Information
- The agenda contains a brief general description of each item to be considered. Written materials relating to an item on the agenda that are provided to the Planning Commission after agenda packet distribution and within 72 hours before it is to consider the item will be made available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office located at 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, during normal business hours; at the Planning Commission meeting; and made available on the City's website.
- Public Participation
- Planning Commission meetings may be viewed on Spectrum Cable Channel 3 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 or streamed live and on-demand on the City’s website at www.cityoforange.org. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3, members of the public may address the Planning Commission on any agenda items or matters within the jurisdiction of the governing body by using any of the following methods:
- 1) In-person
- To speak on an item on the agenda, complete a speaker card indicating your name, address, and identify the agenda item number or subject matter you wish to address. The card should be given to City staff prior to the start of the meeting. General comments are made during the “Public Comments” section at the beginning of the meeting. Public Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker unless a different time limit is announced. It is requested that you state your name for the record, then proceed to address the Commission. All speakers shall observe civility, decorum, and good behavior.
- (Continued on page 2)
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- 2) Written Public Comments via eComment
- Members of the public can submit their written comments electronically for Planning Commission consideration by using the eComment feature on the Agenda page of the City's website at www.cityoforange.org. To ensure distribution to the Planning Commission prior to consideration of the agenda, we encourage the public to submit written comments by 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. All written comments will be provided to the Commissioners for consideration and posted on the City’s website after the meeting.
- 3) Public Comments via recorded voicemail message
- Finally, the public can record their comments by calling (714) 744-7271 no later than 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. Recorded messages will not be played at the meeting, but will be provided to the Planning Commission and the caller's position will be summarized in the minutes.
- Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (714) 744-5500 with any questions.
- ADA Requirements: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need accommodations to participate in this meeting, contact the Clerk's office at (714) 744-5500. Notification at least 48 hours in advance of meeting will enable the City to make arrangements to assure accessibility to this meeting.
- REMINDER: Please silence all electronic devices while Planning Commission is in session.
- APPEAL PROCEDURE
- Any final determination by the Planning Commission may be appealed, and such appeal must be filed within 7 business days after the Planning Commission action. This appeal shall be made in written form to the Community Development Department, accompanied by an initial appeal deposit of $1,000.00.
- The City Clerk, upon filing of said appeal, will set petition for public hearing before the City Council at the earliest date. All owners of property located within 300 feet of the project site will be notified by the City Clerk of said hearing. For additional information, please call (714) 744-7220.
- If you challenge any City of Orange decision in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described on this agenda or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing.
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- OPENING/CALL TO ORDER
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
- PUBLIC COMMENTS
- CONSENT CALENDAR
- Approval of meeting minutes of the City of Orange Planning Commission Regular Meeting held on April 20, 2026 and June 1, 2026.
- PUBLIC HEARINGS
- A Public Hearing to consider a request to allow the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits (Type 47 ABC License) for on-site consumption in conjunction with the operation of a restaurant and bar with outdoor seating located at 237 W. Chapman Avenue and finding of CEQA Exemption (Conditional Use Permit No. 25-0014).
- A Public Hearing to consider a proposal to operate a new charter elementary school with a maximum enrollment of 864 students within two existing buildings and construct two new play areas within an existing parking lot on a property located at 1937 and 2011 W. Chapman Ave. and finding of CEQA exemption (PA25-0156: Conditional Use Permit No. 25-0156 and Minor Site Plan Review No. 25-0156).
- ADJOURNMENT
- Agenda Item
- A Public Hearing to consider a proposal to operate a new charter elementary school with a maximum enrollment of 864 students within two existing buildings and construct two new play areas within an existing parking lot on a property located at 1937 and 2011 W. Chapman Ave. and finding of CEQA exemption (PA25-0156: Conditional Use Permit No. 25-0156 and Minor Site Plan Review No. 25-0156).
- The Planning Commission of the City of Orange, California convened on July 6, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in a Regular Meeting in the Council Chamber, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, California.
- Approval of the Consent Calendar
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