The Planning Commission meeting on July 3, 2025, focused on a significant proposal for a use permit to operate an outdoor hookah lounge at Aliva, an existing restaurant located in the Forest Plaza Center in Lake Forest, California. The proposed lounge would utilize a 300 square foot patio with seating for 12 patrons.

The patio, which previously housed a landscape planter installed without permits, is part of the request for the use permit. The Forest Plaza Center, situated approximately 150 yards southeast of Dimension Drive, encompasses a total of 1.3 acres with 7,217 square feet of building area, housing several businesses including a spa, bakery, animal hospital, and Starbucks.

According to the Lake Forest municipal code, a hookah lounge is defined as an establishment where patrons smoke tobacco from a hookah pipe, which is typically shared among multiple users. The city has required a use permit for such lounges since 2012, with three currently operating in the area.

The proposal aligns with California state laws regarding hookah lounges, which allow outdoor smoking for individuals aged 21 and older, even in establishments serving food and alcohol. Aliva intends to offer hookah service from 5 PM to midnight daily, and if the use permit is granted, the restaurant plans to amend its alcohol license to include patio service.

The commission's decision on this use permit will determine the future of outdoor hookah smoking at Aliva, reflecting ongoing discussions about the regulation of such establishments in the city.