Ford’s Restaurant gets nod from panel

The Laguna Beach Planning Commission has approved a conditional-use permit for Ford’s Restaurant at the current location of Cedar Creek Inn at 384 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach.

The new restaurant, owned by Laguna Beach resident Cary Redfearn, is due to take over the spot across from Laguna Beach City Hall in spring 2008.

The Ayres family, who own the Cedar Creek Inn, will let the restaurant — a fixture in Laguna Beach since 1989 — go when their lease runs out early next year.

There are several other Cedar Creek Inn locations in the area.

Redfearn owns Oysters in Newport Beach and, until recently, also operated Oceans 33 in the Mission Viejo Mall.

Redfearn’s application for a conditional use permit to run the restaurant as well as sell alcohol and have limited musical entertainment, such as jazz and classical, was found to be in compliance with the Downtown Specific Plan and was approved 4-0 at the planning commission’s March 14 meeting.

“All of us of course are unhappy to see Cedar Creek go, however I’m happy a local will be taking over,” Planning Commissioner Anne Johnson said.

According to the meeting’s minutes, there was some concern from the commissioners about the price of food in Ford’s, which will be a little higher than Cedar Creek’s, and about its name.

Commissioner Norm Grossman was concerned about the increasing price of food in the downtown area.

“He wanted a price point comparable to what we have in Cedar Creek, especially in the bar area where locals tend to be,” Johnson said.

The staff report prepared by Assistant Planner Wendy Jung states Redfearn’s intent is to create a family-friendly, affordable and casual dining experience.

Johnson said the commission’s concerns were that there are fewer and fewer inexpensive places to eat downtown. She said it is important to the commission to find a balance between drawing both locals and visitors downtown.

The commission’s passage of the permit had one catch to it for Ford’s. They requested the restaurant’s planned seating arrangement be reconfigured and presented to them before its opening.

The plans presented called for booths according to the meeting’s minutes. The commissioners stated booths cut off the view from the windows and requested Redfearn reconsider their use.