The Costa Mesa Planning Commission on Monday approved a conditional use permit for Purrs in Paradise, a cat lounge and ancillary retail planned for 2981 Bristol Street, Suite B3, in The Camp commercial complex. The commission voted 7–0 to find the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guideline §15301 (existing facilities) and to approve PCUP25-0011 subject to conditions of approval.

Staff described the proposal as a retail-facing lounge with a separate cat lounge area that would allow up to 12 guests at a time and up to 15 adoptable cats. Assistant Planner Jeffrey Raimondo told commissioners the site sits on a 27,191-square-foot parcel with 28 parking spaces and that the business plans to operate daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Staff recommended conditions including prepackaged food only, installation of commercial-grade HEPA filtration before occupancy, and that each cat have readily available rabies vaccination documentation on-site.

During the hearing, commissioners pressed staff and the applicants on how the use fits the city’s land-use matrix and whether the cat lounge is a primary or ancillary use. Vice Chair Zick and others reviewed Table 13-30, noting that certain animal-related uses and amusement uses in the matrix still require a conditional use permit. Staff said the development review committee determined the lounge requires a CUP because it is not a listed use with a clear entitlement path in the C-1 zone.

Applicants Ben and Michelle Leo described operational safeguards, their rescue partner Friends of Normie (an Orange County-based foster rescue), and overnight care plans. The applicants said cats would remain kenneled on-site overnight with video and sound monitoring and that no overnight staff would be present. Friends of Normie’s work, the applicants said, includes trap-neuter-return (TNR) and extensive adoptions; the applicants said the lounge would support adoptions and partner rescue efforts.

Public testimony included support from The Lab (property owner) and community members who praised the incubator role of The Camp and urged code modernization to reduce unnecessary CUP burdens on novel businesses.

Commissioner Dixon moved to approve the project and proposed two condition modifications raised during deliberations: adjust operating hours to 9 a.m.–10 p.m. to match nearby uses and add an age condition for children. The commission amended conditions so that children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and set operating hours 9 a.m.–10 p.m.; the motion carried 7–0. The commission’s approval is final unless appealed to the City Council within seven days.

The resolution of approval and full conditions will be posted with the city’s planning files for PCUP25-0011.