TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Marisa Lundstedt, Director of Community Development
Laurie Jester, Planning Manager
Angelica Ochoa, Associate Planner
SUBJECT:Title
Planning Commission Approval of Use Permit for Proposed On-Site Instructional Alcohol Tasting (Type 86) at an Existing Supermarket at 2700 Sepulveda Boulevard, Ralph’s - Manhattan Village Mall. (Community Development Director Lundstedt).
BY ORDER OF THE CHAIR, RECEIVE AND FILE
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
By order of the Chair, receive and file this report.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No fiscal implications are associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
After a duly noticed public hearing on September 28, 2016, the Planning Commission approved a Use Permit application for alcohol tasting for the Ralphs grocery store in the Manhattan Village Mall. The proposed project is a Type 86 alcohol license for on-site tastings of beer, wine and distilled spirits. This new license, offered since January 2011 by the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), is only issued to license holders of qualified off-sale retail licensed businesses, as a minor, secondary type of license. Ralphs currently has a Type-21 license that allows the sale of beer, wine and spirits for off-site consumption. This new license will allow Ralphs to offer customers small tastings of beer, wine and distilled spirits. Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Section 10.16.020 (L), Commercial District Land Use Regulations, requires a Use Permit for any new alcohol license.
DISCUSSION:
The Planning Commission conducted the public hearing, received public testimony from the applicant, and approved the Use Permit with conditions. There were no members of the public at the hearing. The Planning Commission felt that the addition of instructional tasting was minor, within the existing building and requiring no expansion or modification to the existing grocery store. There was some discussion around the proposed location of the tasting area, and ultimately the Commissioners felt that the location of the small 5 foot by 5 foot area could be decided by Ralphs as they are the most familiar with the operation and layout of the store. Condition No 3 in the Resolution was revised to allow flexibility in the location of the tasting area. The Planning Commission approved the Use Permit and adopted the revised Resolution (4:0).
In accordance with MBMC Section 10.100.020, any Councilmember may request review of a Planning Commission decision within twenty days, until October 18, 2016, following the decision. For all requests for review, it shall be presumed that the reason for the request is that the decision may have significant and material effects on the quality of life within the City, or that the subject matter of the decision may have City-wide importance warranting review and determination by City’s elected officials. Bias shall not be presumed or inferred due to a request for review.
If no Councilmember requests that the decision be reviewed, the Mayor will receive and file the report by order of the Chair.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
A public notice of the Planning Commission hearing was sent to the surrounding neighbors on September 13, 2016 and was published in the Beach Reporter on September 15, 2016 as required for Use Permit projects. No objections or comments were received regarding the proposed project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project is Categorically Exempt, under Section 15301 (Class 1, Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines because it is a minor alteration to the operational characteristics within an existing facility and will not significantly expand any uses.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and approved as to form the resolution.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. PC 16-05
2. Planning Commission Staff Report and Attachments - September 28, 2016
3. Planning Commission Draft Minutes - September 28, 2016