* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. STAFF. OH, WELL THAT [00:00:01] IS A GOOD LEVEL TO JUMP TO, BUT GOOD EVENING. [CALL TO ORDER] I'D LIKE TO CALL THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR DECEMBER 5TH, 2024 TO ORDER, UH, FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONER LAFARGE IS EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ON THAT ABSENCE? NO SIR. THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, [ROLL CALL] COULD WE HAVE THE ROLE PLEASE? COMMISSIONER CASTILLO? PRESENT. COMMISSIONER CLEMSON? HERE. COMMISSIONER WHERE? HERE. VICE CHAIR TEMPLE PRESENT. CHAIR LEWIS PRESENT. WE HAVE QUORUM. THANK YOU. WE COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ LEAD [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] US IN THE FLAG SL THIS EVENING? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR TEMPLATE. THANK YOU. AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO SWEAR IN ANYONE THAT PLANS ON GIVING TESTIMONY THIS EVENING. IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON SPEAKING, PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU SHALL GIVE IN THIS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? YES. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION [1. 24-55758 Recommendation to receive and file Director’s Report.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO HEAR THE ITEM FOR THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT PLEASE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CLEMSON AND VICE CHAIR TEMPLIN. WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER'S REPORT THIS EVENING. YES. GOOD EVENING, JAR AND COMMISSIONERS. UH, JUST A COUPLE OF UPDATES HERE. UH, FIRST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE, UM, DELIVERY ONLY CANNABIS ZONE AND CODE AMENDMENT THAT YOU HEARD A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, AND THEY HAVE A FEW MORE HEARINGS OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS COMING UP THIS COMING TUESDAY, INCLUDING RELATED TO CHANGE OF USE PARKING, WHICH WE DISCUSSED, UM, PREVIOUSLY, UH, WILLOW SPRINGS PARK DEDICATION, UM, AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF SMALLER ITEMS. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND THEN, UM, I WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT OUR NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DOES HAVE OUR INCLUSIONARY HOUSING, UH, EXPANSION RECOMMENDATION ON THE AGENDA. SO THAT WILL BE, UM, AN IMPORTANT MEETING, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR OUR, OUR HOUSING, UM, UM, INITIATIVES HERE IN THE CITY. UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR DIRECTOR'S REPORT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT? NO, THANK YOU. THEN I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT. NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO SO. SEEING NO COMMENTS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTS ON THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY VIRTUAL ATTENDEES. THEN I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL FOR THE VOTE. COMMISSIONER CLEMSON. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. IF I COULD HAVE A MOTION THEN [2. 24-55757 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Planning Commission meeting of Thursday, November 7, 2024.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation.  ] TO, UH, RECOMMEND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2024. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR, TEMPLE AND COMMISSIONER WARE. COMMISSIONER, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR REVISIONS TO THE MINUTES AS THEY HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO US? SEEING NONE THEN I WILL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR OUR MINUTE MEETINGS FROM OUR NOVEMBER 7TH MEETING, SEEING NO COMMENTS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTS? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY VIRTUAL ATTENDEES. THEN I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE PLEASE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S IT FOR OUR HOUSEKEEPING. I THINK THAT BRINGS US TO OUR FIRST REGULAR, UH, ITEM OF BUSINESS. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS [3. 24-55759 Recommendation to accept Categorical Exemption CE-24-158; and Approve a Modification (MOD24-004) to a previously approved Conditional Use Permit (Case No. 0807-12), and adopt the proposed findings and conditions of approval thereto, for an existing liquor store (Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Type 21 - Off-Sale General License) to allow for the internal reconfiguration of floor area to accommodate an onsite tasting area (ABC Type 86 - Instructional Tasting License) within a retail building located at 4100 Atlantic Avenue in the CNP (Neighborhood Pedestrian-Oriented Commercial) Zoning District. (District 5)       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION CE DASH 24 DASH 1 58 AND APPROVE A MODIFICATION TO A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND ADOPT THE PROPOSED FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL THERETO FOR AN EXISTING LIQUOR STORE TO ALLOW FOR THE INTERNAL RECONFIGURATION OF FLOOR AREA TO ACCOMMODATE AN ONSITE TESTING AREA, TASTING AREA WITHIN A RETAIL BUILDING LOCATED AT 4,100 ATLANTIC AVENUE IN THE CNP ZONING DISTRICT, DISTRICT FIVE. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO HEAR THIS ITEM? THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WARE AND COMMISSIONER CASTILLO FOR THE FIRST AND THE SECOND. DO WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION THIS EVENING? YES. OKAY. [00:05:01] OKAY. UH, THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS ITEM TONIGHT. UH, BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A REQUEST TO MODIFY AN EXISTING CUP FOR A RETAIL ALCOHOL STORE WITH OFFSITE ALCOHOL SALES. THE PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED AT 4,100 ATLANTIC AVE AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF ATLANTIC AVE AND CARSON STREET. THE SITE IS IN THE CNP ZONING DISTRICT AND HAS A LAND USE DESIGNATION OF NSC DASH L. THERE IS AN EXISTING 7,000 SQUARE FOOT ONE STORY COMMERCIAL BUILDING ON SITE WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING ALONG ATLANTIC AVE. THE SURROUNDING USES ARE MIXED COMMERCIAL WITH SOME RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL BEYOND EAST AND WEST. THE CORRIDOR IS PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL. THE EXISTING USE IS A LIQUOR STORE CALLED CORKED, WHICH OCCUPIES A PORTION OF THE ENTIRE BUILDING. THIS IS ONE OF TWO CORK LOCATIONS IN LONG BEACH. HERE ARE THE CURRENT EXTERIOR CONDITIONS. THE BUILDING FACES EAST CARSON STREET WITH SEE-THROUGH SIGNAGE. PRIMARY ACCESS INTO THE PARKING AREA IS PROVIDED FROM EAST CARSON STREET. THESE ARE THE EXISTING CONDITIONS OF THE INTERIOR. ON THE RIGHTMOST PICTURE, YOU'LL SEE THE CONDITIONS OF THE PROPOSED ENCLOS TASTING AREA. THE STRUCTURE WAS BUILT IN 1948 AND ITS TENANT SPACE HAS BEEN USED FOR RETAIL SINCE THEN. THE EXISTING USE IS ALCOHOL RETAIL WITH AN A BC TYPE 21 ALCOHOL LICENSE FOR OFF SALE BEER, WINE, AND DISTILLED SPIRITS. AN A BC LICENSE WAS GRANTED IN 1995 ALONG WITH A BUSINESS LICENSE, BUT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUIRED BY ZONING CODE WAS NEVER OBTAINED AT THAT TIME. IN 2008, A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP BROUGHT THE BUSINESS TO THE PLANNING BUREAU'S ATTENTION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CUP WAS REQUIRED. THE CUP WAS SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED IN 2008. CORKED OCCUPIES A 4,100 SQUARE FOOT TENANT SPACE OF THE TOTAL 7,000 SQUARE FOOT COMMERCIAL BUILDING. IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING TYPE 21 LICENSE, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING AN ACCESSORY A BC LICENSE TYPE 86 FOR INSTRUCTIONAL TASTING, WHICH WILL OCCUPY 220 SQUARE FEET OF THE FLOOR AREA. AND TO SUMMARIZE AND REITERATE, WHAT BRINGS US HERE TONIGHT IS THAT THEY HAVE AN EXISTING CUP, WHICH IS NOT IN QUESTION AND THEY'RE ASKING TO EXPAND THE EXISTING LICENSE, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO PUT NEW CONDITIONS ON THE CUP BY ADDING THE TASTING TO THE LICENSE. THE LICENSE TYPE CONSISTS OF PROVIDING SMALL SAMPLES OF ALCOHOL BEING PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS BY VENDORS AT THIS LOCATION. NO NEW FLOOR AREA IS BEING ADDED AS A PART OF THIS APPLICATION, SO NO NEW PARKING REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING TRIGGERED. THERE IS A PROPOSED GREETING COUNTER AT THE ENTRANCE SHOWN IN RED WHERE CUSTOMERS ARE GREETED WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO THE TASTING PROPOSED TO TAKE PLACE AT THE REAR OF THE LOCATION SHOWN IN YELLOW. PURSUANT TO THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, A MODIFICATION OF AN APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT MAY BE APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHEN POSITIVE FINDINGS CAN BE MADE. STAFF FINDS THAT POSITIVE FINDINGS CAN BE MADE IN SUPPORT OF THIS APPLICATION. THE PROPOSAL SEEKS TO ADD A SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL LICENSE AND RECONFIGURE THE EXISTING FLOOR AREA TO ACCOMMODATE AN ONSITE TASTING FOR PROMOTIONAL ALCOHOL SAMPLING THE LIQUOR STORE OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF HIGH-END BEER, WINE, AND DISTILLED SPIRITS IN ADDITION TO NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, CHIPS AND SNACKS FOR PURCHASE. THE ADDITION OF A NEW INSTRUCTIONAL TASTING LICENSE WILL ENSURE THAT ALCOHOL TASTING REMAINS ANCILLARY TO THE EXISTING OFF-PREMISES SALE OF LIQUOR UNDER THE A BC TYPE 21 LICENSE. FOR THE FIRST FINDING, THE PROPOSAL IS ACCESSORY TO THE PRIMARY USE, MEANING IT DOES NOT CREATE A STANDALONE USE FOR THE SECOND FINDING. THE PROPOSAL IS SECONDARY TO THE PRIMARY USE, WHICH MEASURES IN PLACE TO CONSIDER COMMUNITY WELFARE, SUCH AS LIMITING THE TASTING TO 220 SQUARE FEET DESIGNATED FLOOR AREA AND ENSURING ALL ALCOHOL IS PURCHASED AND CONSUMED OFFSITE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT NO EXPANSION OF FLOOR AREA IS BEING PROPOSED AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 21.52, NO ADDITIONAL PARKING IS TRIGGERED. THE OPERATOR WILL PROVIDE NIGHT LIGHTING AND CAMERAS AND WILL TAKE MEASURES TO PREVENT LOITERING AND OTHER UNWANTED ACTIVITIES. WHILE THERE IS AN OVER CONCENTRATION OF OFF-SALE ALCOHOL IN THIS AREA, THIS LICENSE IS ACCESSORY TO THE EXISTING PRIMARY OFF SALE ALCOHOL LICENSE AND IS NOT AN ON SALE LICENSE ALTHOUGH THE AREA IS OVER [00:10:01] CONCENTRATED WITH ALCOHOL LICENSES. THIS APPLICATION AIMS TO ENHANCE THE CUSTOMER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH TASTING AND DOES NOT POSE AN ADDITIONAL RISK OF NUISANCE TO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. FURTHERMORE, THE SUBJECT SITE IS APPROXIMATELY 2,600 FEET NORTHWEST OF LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND CHARLES EVANS HUGHES MIDDLE SCHOOL BASED ON DATA FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A BC, THE PROPERTY IS IN CENSUS TRACT 5 7 1 9 AND ENVISIONS A MAXIMUM OF THREE OFF SALE LICENSES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY FIVE ACTIVE OFF SALE LICENSES IN THIS TRACT. THE PROPOSAL WILL ADD AN TAX TYPE 86 TO THE SUBJECT SITE. THE PROJECT IS WITHIN POLICE REPORTING DISTRICT 3 3 4, WHICH IS LISTED AS HIGH CRIME FOR THE LAST YEAR WITH 66 BEING CONSIDERED HIGH CRIME WITHIN THIS DISTRICT. 72 CRIMES WERE REPORTED FOR THIS. SHE WITH EIGHT CALLS ATTRIBUTED TO THIS LOCATION, WHICH WERE ALL INITIATED BY THE OPERATOR TO ENSURE A SAFE LOCATION FOR CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES. SPECIAL CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THIS PROJECT. TO ENSURE COMPATIBILITY AND SAFETY, THE OPERATOR IS REQUIRED TO CHECK IDENTIFICATION AND ALCOHOL MUST BE CONTAINED WITHIN THE DESIGNATED AREA. SIGNAGE WILL INDICATE THAT ALCOHOL TASTERS MUST REMAIN ON THE PREMISES AND STAFF SERVING ALCOHOL MUST BE RBS CERTIFIED. ADDITIONALLY, THE OPERATOR MUST ADHERE TO A BC REGULATIONS REGARDING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SAMPLES PER PERSON PER DAY. SNACKS, AGAIN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR A PURCHASE BY CUSTOMERS AND OPERATIONS WILL COMPLY WITH LIQUOR STORE HOURS OF OPERATION. TO FURTHER ENSURE SAFETY, THE OPERATOR WILL BE PROVIDING SECURITY DURING TASTING HOURS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF CQA. THIS PROJECT IS EXEMPT PER SECTION 1 5 3 0 1 FOR EXISTING FACILITIES. AS THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF ADDING AN ALCOHOL TASTING AREA WITH NO EXPANSION OF FLOOR AREA. THIS APPLICATION WAS DULY NOTICED PURSUANT TO THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND AS OF TODAY, NO COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. BASED ON THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS, STAFF RECOMMENDS ACCEPTING THE CE AND APPROVING THE MODIFICATION TO THE CUP. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK THAT A DUPLICATE CONDITION IN THE CONDITIONS THAT YOU HAVE BE REMOVED. NUMBERS 31 AND 38, UH, ARE DUPLICATE CONDITIONS, SO WE'D LIKE TO REMOVE ONE OF THOSE FROM THE CONDITIONS. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION. STAFF AND THE APPLICANT ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. UH, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE APPLICANTS, UH, THIS EVENING TO CITY OF LONG BEACH. WE HAVE APPLICANTS HANK DAGGER, WHO IS A DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND WEAM KAZAM, A STORE MANAGER. AND THEY ARE HERE AVAILABLE THIS EVENING FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL PERSON FOR SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO STAFF'S REPORT? GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. UM, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER OUR, OUR APPLICATION AND, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THE HEARING AND HOPEFULLY THE APPROVAL, UH, BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SINCE IT WILL TREMENDOUSLY HELP OUR BUSINESS. WOULD YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR US PLEASE? MY NAME IS HANK DAGGER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR CORK, UM, FOR THE COURT, UH, BUSINESS. PERFECT. ALRIGHT. UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW IN THE CONDITIONS THAT WILL TREMENDOUSLY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS IS THE LIMITATION OF BUSINESS HOURS. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS, UM, CONDITIONS NUMBER 18, UH, PUT OUR LIMITS ON OUR BUSINESS HOURS AS OF THE CURRENT BUSINESS HOURS. THAT MEANS IF WE NEED TO CHANGE 'EM IN THE FUTURE FOR ANY REASON, THEN WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN. AND THIS ONE RELATE TO THE TYPE 21, THE EXISTING LICENSE, NOT THE ONE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET APPROVAL FOR. SO WE ASKED KINDLY TO REMOVE THAT CONDITION AS IT WILL AFFECT, UM, THE VALUE OF OUR STORE. THAT, NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, IT'S NOT, IT WASN'T PART OF THE ORIGINAL CUP FOR OUR 21 TYPE LICENSE. AND WE HAVE SEVERAL COMPETITORS, OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE AREA THAT OPEN MORE HOURS THAN THAN WE DO. UH, SO WE KINDLY ASK TO REMOVE THAT, THAT CONDITIONS FROM, UH, FROM THE LIST OF CONDITIONS. AND THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY, THE ONLY ONE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE, UH, TIME. MY NAME IS . I'M THE MANAGER OF THE STORE. IT'S BEEN MY FAMILY'S BUSINESS FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS. I WANT TO THANK KARA, MIGUEL, AND SCOTT FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION POSSIBLE FOR US TO EVEN GET A CHANCE TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU. I'M ACTUALLY NERVOUS, I'M NOT GONNA LIE. IT'S OKAY. [00:15:01] BUT, UH, I COME HERE WITH GREAT HOPE THAT THIS COULD IMPACT THE FUTURE OF WHERE WE SEE THE BUSINESS ITSELF GOING AS WELL. UM, WE PLAN ON EDUCATING PEOPLE. AS YOU KNOW, TYPE 86. WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA OPEN BEVERAGE AND SERVE ANYBODY THAT WALKS IN. I'M CURRENTLY PURSUING MY SOMMELIER LICENSE AS WELL. AND, UH, I INTEND ON TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY TO BEGIN WITH, WITH THE LOVE OF THE INDUSTRY ITSELF AND EVERYTHING. WE TOOK THE TIME TO MAKE CORKED SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM ANY LIQUOR STORE THIS CITY HAS EVER SEEN. WE HAVE A CLEAN RECORD NINE YEARS AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A BUSINESS WE'RE ALL GOOD PEOPLE. WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING BETTER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ENVIRONMENT. AND IF YOU GUYS WOULD ALLOW FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE FOR MARCUS TO ALSO SPEAK ON THIS CASE. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. YEP, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN THIS EVENING AND SHARING THAT WITH US. THANK YOU. HI, HOW YOU DOING TODAY? UH, MY NAME IS MARCUS BEAGLE. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY. UH, I ALSO HAPPEN TO OWN DIRTY PROSPECTOR, WHICH IS A LONG BEACH FIRST WHISKEY COMPANY IN THE HISTORY OF LONG BEACH. AND I ALSO HAPPEN TO OWN, UH, TWO COAST BREWING, WHICH IS A BREWERY, EXCUSE ME, IN GARDENA. SO I SPEAK AS THE INDUSTRY PERSON PER SE CHAIR. UM, IF WE COULD, I, I THINK THIS MIGHT BE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT. WE'LL, WE'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC IN A MINUTE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE NOT FORMALLY PART OF THE APPLICANT TEAM, BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT IN JUST A MOMENT. YEAH, NO PROBLEM. YEAH, I WAS OKAY GOING INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. WAS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE NEEDED TO DO BEFORE NO, IF YOU COME BACK UP, SIR. SORRY. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT. YEAH, NO PROBLEM. UM, SO, UH, GENERALLY JUST, UH, SPEAKING FROM THE INDUSTRY AND, UH, HAVING BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW, UM, I'VE SEEN COURTS SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT A LOT OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE, THE SMALL BREWERIES, THE SMALL WINERIES, THE SMALL DISTILLERS. AND FOR US, UH, AS, AS AS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, UH, WITH NO MARKETING BUDGET, I ALSO HAPPEN TO BE A PROFESSOR AT THE CAL STATE LONG BEACH IN MARKETING. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO DEVELOP A PRODUCT AND PUT IT OUT THERE INTO INDUSTRY AND YOU HAVE TO USE WHATEVER TOOLS YOU CAN TO PUT YOUR PRODUCT OUT THERE. AND CORK HAS BEEN WELCOMING AND EVEN COLLABORATING WITH A LOT OF THE SMALL LOCAL BRANDS, GIVING IT PREMIUM SHELF SPACE, MAKING SURE THAT THE STAFF THERE KNOWS THIS PRODUCT AND SELLS THE PRODUCT TO THE CUSTOMERS. BECAUSE WHO WOULDN'T, WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO DRINK THE LOCAL LONG BEACH WHISKEY WHEN YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH? RIGHT. SO, UH, CORK HAS BEEN JUST AMAZING IN BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT. AND WITH BEING ABLE TO GET THIS ADDITIONAL LICENSE, I'M ABLE NOT JUST TO SELL MY PRODUCT THERE, BUT I CAN PERSONALLY GO INTO THE STORE AND TALK TO CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY AND TELL THEM WHY THE PRODUCT IS SO WONDERFUL AND INTERESTING. SO THIS IS REALLY PART OF DEVELOPING A DIFFERENT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT APPRECIATE KIND OF LIKE THE FINER WINES AND ALCOHOLS THAT THAT, THAT WE HAVE IN, IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND, UH, THIS IS WHY THE LICENSE IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. IF YOU HAVE SPIN IN CORK BEFORE, IT'S AN ELEVATED PLACE, IT'S REALLY NICELY DESIGNED. IT'S NOT A REGULAR LIQUOR STORE. PEOPLE COME THERE FOR EDUCATION AND PEOPLE COME THERE BECAUSE IT CAN ALSO BE INTIMIDATING TO GO INTO A BIG WINE STORE AND YOU'RE NOT AN EXPERT IN WINE AND YOU'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. UH, AND THAT'S WHY THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT IS SO IMPORTANT. UH, I KIND OF MOVED OUT OF TOWN, BUT I'M IN TOWN EVERY WEDNESDAY TO HAVE DINNER WITH MY MOM AND MY FIRST STOP IS ALWAYS CORKED. AND I THINK WEST AT THIS POINT KNOWS BETTER MY MOM'S TASTE AND WINE THAN I DO . UH, BUT HE'S JUST AN EXPERT IN ALL THE INFORMATION THAT HE HAS, THE STUDYING THAT HE DOES AS A SOMMELIER. AND IT'S NOT JUST HIM, IT'S ENTIRE, EVERYONE THAT WORKS THERE IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ALCOHOL. SO IT'S REALLY A PREMIUM EXPERIENCE. IT'S NOT THE CHEAPEST STORE IN TOWN THAT'S FOR SURE, NOT , BUT IT'S REALLY A GREAT EXPERIENCE. AND THIS, THIS LICENSE AGAIN, UH, WILL HELP CREATE AN EXPERIENCE THAT'S KIND OF UNIQUE TO US. AND I THINK THAT THERE'S ENOUGH PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH THAT WOULD APPRECIATE THAT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BEING MORE EDUCATED ABOUT ALCOHOL. THAT'S WHY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALLOWING ME TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTS? THERE ARE NO VIRTUAL ATTENDEES. OKAY. I'LL BRING IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL THEN. COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER WARE. THANK YOU. UM, JUST CLARIFICATION ON NUMBER 18 ARE THE CURRENT HOURS NOW AND YOU NUMBER 18 ARE THE CURRENT HOURS RIGHT NOW? UM, SO THOSE ARE OUR OPERATING HOURS AS OF NOW. JUST BY ADDING THAT CONDITION AND LIMITING THOSE, UH, LIMITED AS TO ONLY THOSE HOURS, THAT MEANS ANY PLAN TO EXTEND THOSE HOURS IN THE FUTURE, IT'S GONNA REQUIRE ANOTHER APPLICATION, ANOTHER HEARING, ANOTHER LIKE, IT'S GONNA BE A HASSLE JUST FOR, UH, ADDING MORE HOURS. NOW WE'RE JUST ASKING TO REMOVE 'EM AND JUST FOLLOW A, B, C RULES OF OPENING FROM, UM, 6:00 AM TO 2:00 AM WE'RE NOT GONNA OPEN THOSE HOURS, JUST LIKE ALLOW US THAT, THAT AVAILABILITY TO DO IT. SO A A [00:20:01] QUESTION FOR STAFF WITH REMOTE 18 THANK 19 ALREADY COVERS THEIR NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. SO IF THEY COME BACK AND THEY CHANGE THEIR HOURS, IT'S STILL COMPLIANT BECAUSE IT'S STILL IN BUSINESS HOURS, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO IS THERE A REASON WE NEED BOTH 18 AND 19? SO IN THIS CASE THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DUPLICATIVE. UH, TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO IS WE WILL ADD A CONDITION THAT LIMITS THE HOURS OF ALCOHOL SALES TO THE HOURS OF THE BUSINESS. UM, IN THIS CASE, AS THE APPLICANT STATED, THEIR HOURS OF BUSINESS ARE A LITTLE BIT, UH, THEY CLOSE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THEN SOME OF THEIR COMPETITORS THAT THEY MENTIONED. UM, SO NORMALLY YOU SEE THIS CONDITION IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, TO 11:00 PM OR TO MIDNIGHT OR SOMETHING. SO IN THIS CASE, UH, SORT OF A BOILERPLATE PRACTICE RESULTED IN THE IMPOSITION OF A CONDITION THAT, UH, CLOSES THEM AT 9:00 PM TO 10:00 PM UM, SO STAFF IS OKAY WITH ELIMINATING THAT CONDITION IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO DO. SO ANOTHER GO AHEAD. OH, SORRY. I WAS GONNA SAY ANOTHER OPTION COULD BE, UM, UM, MODIFYING THE CONDITION TO TAKE OUT THE SALES AND SERVICE PORTION. SO IT'S JUST ABOUT THE CONSUMPTION THAT'S HAPPENING ON SITE, BEING LIMITED TO THOSE HOURS. UM, IT IS COMMON WHEN A MODIFICATION COMES BEFORE US, IF IT'S AN OLDER PERMIT WHERE WE DIDN'T PUT IN HOURS OF OPERATION THAT WE WOULD, UM, STILL COME BACK AND IMPOSE THEM. UM, IN MORE RECENT, UH, CUP APPLICATIONS, YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR, WE, WE DO, UM, TEND TO HAVE THOSE HOURS OF OPERATION. SO, UM, THIS IS BEFORE THE COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE OPTIONS IN FRONT OF YOU. UM, BUT BESIDES JUST STRIKING IT COMPLETELY, ONE OTHER OPTION COULD BE TO MODIFY IT SO IT'S LIMITED JUST TO THE, THE CHANGE THAT'S BEFORE YOU, WHICH IS ONLY THE CONSUMPTION PORTION. AND, AND DOES THIS CUP REPLACE THEIR, THE CUP THAT THEY HAVE FOR THEIR TYPE 21 LICENSE? THIS IS JUST A CUP FOR THE TASTING LICENSE. IT BUILDS UPON IT. AND SO THERE IS A CONDITION THAT KEEPS ALL CONDITIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS, UH, CUP AND THEN IT ADDS RELATED TO A NEXUS WITH WHAT THE EXPANSION TO THE TASTING. AND THEN JUST TO CLARIFY, THE PREVIOUS CUP DOES NOT HAVE OPERATING HOURS IN IT, SO THEY'RE JUST LIMITED TO WHAT THE A BC LA RESTRICTIONS ARE? THAT IS CORRECT. AND THE HOURS THAT ARE PROVIDED IN THAT TABLE ONE WERE PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT. SO THE STAFF FELT THAT MEMORIALIZING IT WAS IMPORTANT. AND AS IT RELATES TO NUMBER 19, IT'S TO ENSURE THAT ALCOHOL TASTING EVENTS DON'T HAPPEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. THEY'RE ONLY LIMITED TO WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN. THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE COMBINATION OF 18 AND 19. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE HOURS THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE A BC HOURS, WHICH ARE MENTIONED AT 2:00 AM AND SO THAT'S WHY THE MEMORIALIZATION WAS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION. BUT WE CAN, UH, THIS PLANNING COMMISSION CAN DISCUSS REFINEMENTS TO THAT BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR, GO AHEAD. AND JUST ONE THING THAT TO ADD TO THAT CONSIDERATION IS THAT, UM, IF YOU WERE TO STRIKE 18 COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T EXPECT IT WITH THIS OPERATOR, BUT THIS APPROVAL DOES RUN WITH THE LAND. SO IF A FUTURE OPERATOR WERE TO RUN UNTIL 2:00 AM STRIKING 18 COMPLETELY WOULD ALLOW THE TASTING TO ALSO GO THAT LATE. SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER OR, OR WE COULD LIMIT THE TASTING TO THOSE HOURS AND THE OPERATING HOURS COULD BE RIGHT MORE BROAD. AND SO THAT WOULD JUST BE MODIFYING 18 TO TAKE OUT THOSE FIRST FEW WORDS. YEAH. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS? A POINT OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT IF IT'S HELPFUL IS JUST AT THE TIME THAT THE ORIGINAL CCP WAS DONE, IT JUST WASN'T COMMON PRACTICE YET OF STAFF TO HAVE THOSE LIMITING HOURS. BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE DO USUALLY TODAY. UH, YEAH, AND, AND I I, I CONCUR WITH STAFF. I THINK THERE'S VALUE IN HAVING SOME PARAMETERS IN PLACE. UM, JUST WONDERING WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT MIDDLE GROUND IS IN TERMS OF HAVING, UM, A WIDE MARGIN SO THAT THE BUSINESS HAS THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADAPT AND DO EVENTS LATER IN THE EVENING, ET CETERA, AS, AS THE SITUATION WARRANTS AND TO AVOID HAVING TO COME BACK. UM, WOULD MIDNIGHT BE A REASONABLE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE OTHER ADJOINING BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA, WHAT THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION ARE SO THAT IF THEY CHOOSE TO EXPAND FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY COULD. UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF 2:00 AM IS NECESSARILY THE ANSWER FOR THAT AREA, BUT, UM, CURIOUS FROM STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, WHAT, WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IN TERMS OF THE OTHER, UM, ADJOINING BUSINESSES FOR PARITY PROGRAM FOR PARITY'S SAKE. SURE. SO I'LL GIVE SOME KIND OF, UM, UH, PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS AND IF OTHERS HAVE MORE TO SAY, FEEL FREE TO ADD. BUT, UM, UM, AS YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE CEPS WE BRING BEFORE YOU ALL ARE NOT NECESSARILY FOR LIQUOR STORES. THEY TEND TO BE FOR RESTAURANTS AND BARS. AND SO, UM, UH, THE, UM, WE, I THINK STAFF WOULD NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE ANALYSIS TO KNOW WHAT'S UM, COMMON NEARBY. UM, I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THAT QUITE IN FRONT OF US. THERE IS A CONSIDERATION OF RESIDENTIAL NEARBY, BUT THERE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S [00:25:01] A, THERE'S CERTAINLY A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT THERE WITH LOTS OF BARS, RESTAURANTS, AND UM, PLACES SELLING ALCOHOL. UM, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE COMMON FOR OTHER LIQUOR STORES TO BE OPEN LATER. A LOT OF THOSE ARE GRANDFATHERED IN. THEY MAY NOT EVEN HAVE A CUP AT ALL OR THEY MAY HAVE AN OLDER CUP. UM, WE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD IMAGINE AT LEAST MIDNIGHT WOULD BE COMMON FOR A TYPICAL LIQUOR STORE. BUT WITHOUT ALL THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US, UM, REVISING CONDITION 18 TO BE ONLY TO THE TASTING MAY BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT'S BEFORE US, THAT'S THE MODIFICATION BEING MADE BEFORE US. UM, BUT OTHER THAN MIDNIGHT, DO OTHERS HAVE RECENT EXAMPLES? I KNOW WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING HERE AT THE STAFF TABLE AND WE CAN COME BACK WITH IF WE FIND MORE EXAMPLES. YOU GUYS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT JUST LIMITING IT TO THE TASTING TO THOSE HOURS? YES. YEAH, I'M FLEXIBLE. SO DO WE NEED TO MODIFY MY MOTION? WE CAN HAVE A FRIENDLY OR YOU CAN MAKE A MODIFIED MOTION SINCE YOU WERE THE MOTION MAKER, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND MODIFY YOUR MOTION. I'LL MODIFY THE MOTION. UH, CAN YOU, CAN YOU DO TWO THINGS ON IT? CAN YOU, UH, STRIKE CONDITION NUMBER 38 AS IT'S A DUPLICATE 31 AND 31? NO, KEEP 31 38 0 1 ANOTHER 39. 31. 39. SORRY, LEMME GET SOME, SOME CLARIFICATION FROM STAFF'S TABLE. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE A FRIENDLY . WELL, NO, IT IS 39. COMMISSIONER WARE'S GONNA MAKE IT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MM-HMM. STAFF HAD ASKED THAT WE STRIKE ONE OF THOSE, SO IF SHE'S GONNA MAKE A MODIFIED MOTION, IT WOULD BE NICE THAT SHE PICKS BOTH OF THEM UP. BUT I HAD WRITTEN DOWN 31 AND 38. IT'S 31 AND 39, CONTRARY TO MY PREVIOUSLY STATED 38. OKAY. SO 39. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. OKAY, THANK YOU. I, I, I'M COUNTING, I'M LOOKING AT YOU FOR THAT MOTION . I KNOW YOU ARE. SO, SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU ARE SEEKING TO MODIFY YOUR MOTION TO, UM, AS IT RELATES TO CONDITION 18, TO ENSURE THAT THE OPERATING HOURS ARE LIMITED TO THE OPERATION OF THE TASTING ROOM. THAT THESE HOURS THAT WE WOULD STRIKE SALES AND SERVICE AND IT WOULD JUST BE THE TASTING PORTION THAT WOULD BE THIS TIME. THAT'S CORRECT. YES. YES. AND THEN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE, THE OTHER COMPONENT OF YOUR MODIFIED MOTION IS TO STRIKE CONDITION 39 AS IT IS DUPLICATE DUPLICATIVE OF CONDITION 31. CORRECT. AND UM, COMMISSIONER CASTILLO, DO YOU AGREE TO MAINTAIN YOUR SECOND FOR THE MODIFIED MOTION? YES, I CONCUR. PERFECT. WE HAVE A MODIFIED FIRST AND SECOND. CAN I ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE MODIFIED 18 HOURS? GO AHEAD. SORRY. COMMISSIONER TEMPLIN UNDER IF YOU CAN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS 18 AND 19 USE YOUR MICROPHONE. SORRY, JUST SO WE'RE CATCHING IT FOR THE RECORDING. OH, I BEG YOUR PARDON. . MY UNDERSTANDING IS 18 AND 19 ARE BASICALLY GONNA BE COMBINED THAT THOSE OPERATING HOURS THAT ARE LISTED APPLY ONLY TO THE TASTING OPERATIONS AND NOT TO THEIR BUSINESS OPERATIONS. IS THAT CORRECT? SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR TOO. UM, WITH COMMISSIONER WARE IS THE MAKER OF THE MOTION. 'CAUSE I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OPTIONS. SO ONE WOULD BE TO MODIFY 18 SO IT ONLY THE HOURS IN THE TABLE ONLY APPLY TO TASTING. UM, AND SO DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE NOT ADDING HOURS FOR THE BUSINESS OVERALL? IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. THEN IN THAT CASE, YES, I THINK WE WOULD BE, UM, MODIFYING 18 TO STRIKE OUT THE, THOSE FIRST THREE WORDS. UM, THEY CAN BE OPEN AND I THINK WE COULD STRIKE 19, BUT IT DOESN'T, BUT THEY CAN ONLY DO THEIR TASTING. IF THEY EXPAND THAT LATER, IT'S FINE. YEP. BUT WE STILL ONLY WANT YOU TO DO TASTING. THAT'S RIGHT. YEP. OKAY. SO THERE, THERE'S THE ABILITY TO STRIKE 19, BUT 19 ALSO WOULDN'T INHIBIT ITS USE. AND IT'S A NICE SAFETY NET TO HAVE AS PART OF THE CONDITIONING SHOULD ANYTHING CHANGE GOING FORWARD. OKAY. PERFECT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONERS? SEEING NONE, IF WE COULD HAVE THE VOTE PLEASE. MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS GENTLEMEN. THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR REGULAR BUSINESS. AT THIS TIME WE'LL TAKE ANY [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Planning Commission on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.] NON AGENDIZED PUBLIC COMMENT. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS TO THE COMMISSION, MA'AM? I DO NOT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON AGENDIZED ITEMS? THERE ARE NO VIRTUAL ATTENDEES THAT I WILL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. ANY [ANNOUNCEMENTS] ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? NO. SEEING NONE. IF THERE'S NO [ADJOURNMENT] OBJECTIONS, THEN I WILL ADJOURN OUR MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE FOR YOUR TIME. THANK. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.