1 Irma Glidden
From: Trish Spencer
Sent: Monday, February 6, 2023 5:14 PM
To: Irma Glidden
Subject: Fwd: Re: Liquor store referral
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Date: Feb 6, 2023 4:34 PM
Subject: Re: Liquor store referral
To: Lara Weisiger <[email protected]>
Cc:
From: Allen Tai <[email protected]>
Date: January 20, 2023 at 2:15:16 PM PST
To: Linda Asbury <[email protected]>, Brian McGuire <[email protected]>
Cc: Andrew Thomas <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: Liquor store ordinance
Linda - A variance wouldn't apply here. Under California law we can't approve a variance to waive zoning regulations on business activities, and this limit on liquor stores we have here is a type of "use regulation." Instead, variances only apply to development standards, or rules that govern the physical circumstances of how a building fits on the property. They are different distinctions.
Allen Tai, AICP | City Planner
City of Alameda
Planning, Building & Transportation Dept.
510-747-6888 (direct)
2 From: Linda Asbury <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2023 7:48 AM
To: Brian McGuire
Cc: Andrew Thomas; Allen Tai
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: Liquor store ordinance
Is there any wiggle room for a variance? It seems the distance from 1401 Webster to 1542 Webster is about 950 feet. As always, sorry! Linda
Linda Asbury
Executive Director
West Alameda Business Association
408.888.6747
On Jan 19, 2023, at 7:59 AM, Brian McGuire <[email protected]> wrote:
There are currently three, including Santos. It looks like about 2100 feet between Dave's and Better Buy. I think the current ordinance could possibly allow a 3rd again at the midpoint were the Santos location cease to be a liquor store.
If Santos were to move to the proposed location, the property owner of the current location may have a legal right to open a new liquor store at the existing location. In which case there would be three within 1,000 feet. Any change in the ordinance would need to facilitate that possibility.
Just a few years ago when Circle K opened, this same issue came up and the neighbors and Council were not in favor of allowing the change.
Brian McGuire
Planner II
Planning, Building and Transportation Department | City of Alameda [email protected] | 510.747.6819
From: Linda Asbury <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2023 6:43:02 AM
To: Andrew Thomas
Cc: Brian McGuire; Allen Tai
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: Liquor store ordinance
3 As always, I’m sorry to be a pest………clarification: Santos Liquors has found another location, 1542 Webster. It is approximately 750 feet from Dave’s Liquors and 750 feet from Better Buy Liquors. Under the current ordinance, Webster Street will never accommodate more than 2 liquor stores. ?? Linda Linda Asbury
Executive Director
West Alameda Business Association
408.888.6747
On Jan 18, 2023, at 8:13 PM, Andrew Thomas
<[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Linda.
Yes. This ordinance is old but apparently not that
outdated. When staff recommended getting rid of a similar ordinance for bars, WABA members, neighbors, and the council argued against getting rid of it because it would result in an over concentration of bars.
Now we are talking about liquor stores. There is no reason for staff to believe that council or WABA members are in support of getting rid of it.
So apparently WABA and at least one business want the
ordinance adjusted to accommodate one business. So how does WABA want it adjusted? And do all WABA members support it?
I talked to Bobec. He is not supportive of the liquor store moving next door to Cafe Jolie.
I assume he is a member of WABA.
Here is my point. This is going to take time and resources. The "applicant" needs to cover these costs and they need to know it is not a "slam dunk" and that even if the application get denied by council, there is no refund.
Does the applicant really have district wide support? If so, the process will be quick, relatively cheap, and less risky. If there isn't district wide support, the process will be long, expensive and risky.
Either way, somebody needs to cover the costs.
Andrew Thomas,
510-774-5361 (c)
4 On Jan 18, 2023, at 5:40 PM, Linda Asbury
<[email protected]> wrote:
Sorry, I’m not understanding. This very outdated
ordinance is forcing an Alameda 40 year business
to move from Webster, their solid base. Please
advise. Linda
Linda Asbury
Executive Director
West Alameda Business Association
408.888.6747
On Jan 18, 2023, at 4:40 PM, Brian
McGuire
<[email protected]>
wrote:
Hello Linda,
The instructions and link are on our
Planning Division webpage:
https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departm
ents/Planning-Building-and-
Transportation/Planning-Division
The fees for a Zoning Text Amendment
are not a set amount like some
permits. The City Council adopted
deposit is $8,820 and staff and public
hearing costs get billed against that.
I’m sure you’ve been in contact with
Allen and/or Andrew about the topic,
but at the moment I do not know what
the staff recommendation would be
on something like this.
Thanks,
Brian
5 From: Linda Asbury
[mailto:[email protected]
om]
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2023
4:25 PM
To: Brian McGuire
<[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Liquor store
ordinance
Linda Asbury
Executive Director
West Alameda Business Association
408.888.6747
On Jan 15, 2023, at
4:31 PM, Linda
Asbury
<linda@westalamed
abusiness.com>
wrote:
Brian, where can I
find the application
to amend and the
fees? Thanks. Linda
Linda Asbury
Executive Director
West Alameda
Business Association
408.888.6747
6 Begin forwarded
message:
From:
Linda
Asbur
y
<linda
asbur
y44@
gmail.
com>
Date:
Janua
ry 14,
2023
at
4:36:5
5 PM
PST
To:
Linda
Asbur
y
<linda
@wes
talam
edabu
siness
.com>
Subje
ct:
Liquo
r
store
ordin
ance
7 8
Linda
Asbur
y
Execu
tive
Direct
or
West
Alame
da
Busin
ess
Associ
ation
408.8
88.67 47,