A Miami Lakes restaurant’s plan to turn into a nightclub after 10 p.m. has some residents concerned.

The restaurant, Mango Martini, submitted an application to the city asking for permit that would allow the eatery to offer patrons later hours, dancing and live music.

The permit application was deferred at the commissions Feb. 14 meeting after three hours of comments from the business owner, commissioners and residents.

The issue will come before the commission on March 13.

Mango Martini, located at 6125 Miami Lakes Dr., currently operates as a conventional restaurant. Owner Manny Fernandez wants to make it a night club.

“There are people in the community who do like to go out late at night and have dinner,” told the Herald this week.

But not all residents are convinced.

“We’re concerned about the trash, bringing in the wrong people and drug sales,” said resident Vivian Beck in an interview with the Herald this week. Beck who also owns several businesses in the town, including one in the same shopping center as Mango Martini’s.

Several other residents voiced concern at the meeting about loud music spilling into the surrounding neighborhood.

Town Manager Alex Rey discussed ways to improve the noise level at the meeting.

Fernandez said that he will take steps to control the sound.

“We’re physically installing double padding and big curtains on the inside to prevent noise coming from the outside,” he said after the meeting.

Fernandez said he would also be willing to install double doors to prevent sound from escaping when people enter and exit if the city asks him to.

Fernandez said code enforcement has been out to look into several noise complaints in the days following the meeting.

“If you really stand there, 150 feet away, you can’t hear it,” he said. “Much less from four blocks away.”

Fernandez also plans to take steps to prevent drunk driving. The restaurant has a bus that will pick up people who were over 21, especially college students.

“We physically will pick you up and take you back to your domain so you won’t drive,” he said.

Though the location has been classified as a nightclub, the goal is to allow current customers to stay later, Fernandez said.

“It’s not a nightclub with a 1200 occupant load,” he said. “We’re trying to be selective.”

He expects the late hours to attract locals more than anything.

If the plan is approved, the city council will impose certain regulations, including a 3 a.m. closing time and the soundproofing measures.

“The minute they are a nuisance to neighbors, they should be shut down immediately,” said Mayor Michael Pizzi.

This is not the first time that Miami Lakes has been faced with nightclub dilemma. Residents say the shuttered nightclub Rendezvous caused problems such as drug-dealing in the parking lot, loitering and loud music.

“Rendezvous promised the same thing,” said former vice mayor Roberto Alonso, who believes that Mango Martini is “fine” in it’s current state. He is concerned that even with the regulations the club will be an imposition.

“Perhaps, if it’s not done properly, it could cause problems,” he said.

Luis Collazo, resident of neighboring Celebration Point, said he doesn’t have a problem with the later hours. .

“I happen to live in the building closest to the establishment and we haven’t heard any issues with noise or crowds,” said

Collazo, who is also president of the Celebration Point Homeowner’s Association, this week. Several residents from that neighborhood spoke out against the permit application at the February meeting.

“That’s not to say we’re immune from problems,” said Collazo. “I just don’t have any concerns yet.”