SEBASTIAN — Patrons of the Ay! Jalisco restaurant in Sebastian can expect to see some changes underway in the near future as the owners plan to expand the building and add more parking. Once construction starts, the owners hope to unveil the expansion in four months.
The Sebastian Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved Ay! Jalisco’s expansion plan, which clears the way for another 1,430 square feet of dining space and a second parking lot.
Diners who use handicap parking, will notice their spots relocated out of the main travel lane, increasing safety, according to project manager Todd Howder.
Owners Gloria Huitron, Pedro Nevarez and Augustine Gutierrez sat attended the Planning and Zoning Board meeting but did not address the board.
After receiving approval for the expansion, Nevarez said he was happy with the outcome and looking forward to moving ahead with the construction.
According to Howder, the expansion will necessitate the hiring of more staff. Currently, the restaurant has 15 full time employees. The expansion will add 15 more, for a total of 30 full time employees.
“That’s a nice addition to the city,” Howder said of the economic boost to the area.
Concerned that the Mexican restaurant did not incorporate enough of Sebastian’s “fishing village” theme, the board requested Ay! Jalisco’s owners to work in a few decorative touches.
“I’m not seeing a fishing village theme here,” said board member David Reyes, who noted the roof of the expansion would be red barrel tiles instead of a continuation of the metal roofing on the main building.
“It’s hard to say ‘no,'” said City Planner Jan King of the request for the tile roof. She explained that the city’s codes allow such a roof in that area. She added that the new expansion would complement the existing building.
“When we saw the elevations (architectural renderings), we really were quite thrilled,” King said of the Growth Management staff.
The board suggested they install posts with ropes, similar to that required of Tire Kingdom.
Construction of the new part of the building and the new parking area will be done in phases, minimizing the amount of time the restaurant would have to be closed to customers.
“They’re going to do this back to back to back,” Howder said, explaining that work would be done on the parking to the north first, then replace the drainage in the parking on the south before getting started on the building itself.
Nearby resident Harry Marshall told the Planning and Zoning Board that he supports Ay! Jalisco’s plans for the expansion.
“I found it very pleasing,” he said of the restaurant’s plans. He added that he was happy to see Ay! Jalisco make an investment in the city by expanding and asked the board to approve the project so his neighbors can get their project done as quickly as possible.
Planning and Zoning Board Chair Ed Dodd voiced support for the project, including the conditions placed on the expansion by staff and the request from the board for more fishing village details.
“I think this building fits everything in the code,” Dodd said.