Panda Express in Southampton Shopping Center can have an outdoor patio for diners, City Manager Brad Kilger, acting as Benicia’s zoning administrator, decided Tuesday.

His decision came quickly after he praised designer Gary Wang’s plans.

“I think it looks really good,” Kilger said.

He had few questions about the project, and those mostly addressed the surface appearance.

Principal Planner Amy Million told Kilger the treatment would be similar to the outdoor patio at the shopping center’s Starbucks coffee shop, and would resemble the shopping center’s common decorative theme.

Panda Express, 804-B Southampton Road, recently opened at the center, Wang said. Once the applicant, Brian Kan of Panda Restaurant Group, obtains permits from various regulatory agencies, Wang said, “We’ll start right away.”

He said he expects the patio to take about a week to complete.

His plans describe a 195-square-foot dining patio with space for four seating areas.

Each of the four would have a fixed table, a red umbrella color-coordinated with signs throughout the center, two moveable chairs and a fixed two-space bench seat.

The furniture will be made of a polywood composite material, as will one trash receptacle that will be placed on the patio.

The patio will be built in front of the restaurant, near three posts that support an overhang. It will be behind a lawn that separates the restaurant from the curb and pavement.

Among the landscaping that will be added to the patio are hormium shrubs, Indian hawthorns and fortnight lilies. An existing nearby tree will be kept.

In addition, Wang proposed concealing a backflow protector at the west end of the lawn with a cage attached to metal posts.

The patio’s design is expected to ease pedestrian traffic away from the shopping center’s drive entryway, Million said.

She has called the patio “a functional and efficient project.”

Kilger went further Tuesday after approving the applicant’s use permit and design.

“I think it will look really nice,” he said.

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