PC 03/12/97 - Laserfiche WebLink

noted that trash is dumped in the rear of the shopping center, and he believes the restaurant throws grease in the storm drain. Pam Schrader, Touriga Drive, does not believe a "neighborhood" grocery store needs to sell hard liquor. There are other stores close by that sell liquor . Selling liquor in this store would defeat the purpose of the conditions placed on the Cowboy Country Club. Ms. Schrader does not think this will be good for the neighborhood. Bruce Fryman, 4155 Casterson Court, has very strong opinions against this application. It degrades the community, is a risk to the safety of the public, increases the burden on city resources, and is a bad influence on the children in the neighborhood. Ilshim Lim, 3550 Bernal Avenue, #160, stated that she has been located in the shopping center for four years and that it is hard to operate a business when the shopping center is not fully occupied. There have been instances of loiters in the shopping center, and she wants more tenants to occupy the shopping center. She feels it will be a convenience to the neighborhood to have a store close by to get necessary food items. Mr. Rankin stated that he has personally mailed a notice to residents within 500 feet of the store as part of their application for a liquor license. He noted that it is the economics of the time that they need 24 hour operation to make a profit. They would like to franchise this store to a local resident. Mr. Rankin also stated that it is his sense that it may be a deal breaker if Conditions 2 and 3 are not deleted. "- Mr. Fujinaga advised the Commission that the property owners have been approached by a number of people who wanted to open a convenience market. They selected Bonfare Markets because they do not have the appearance of a "7-11 "-type convenience store. Vacant space in centers cause problems. With the Bonfare Market and Rod's Hickory Pit restaurant, it will help in the overall scheme of the center. He also noted that the Cowboy Country Club does not attract an unsavory clientele. He asked the Planning Commission to support the Bonfare Market application. PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED Commissioner Dove advised he drove through the rear of the shopping center and noted that garbage was everywhere. He proposed that the rear of the center be gated off (similar to what was done at Hopyard Village). Other than a few comments about alcohol being sold, there were no negative comments from his community association (which is near this application). They were in favor of the shopping center being occupied. While there is a risk with the sale of alcohol, compared to continuing having a large void in the shopping center, Commissioner Dove feels this application is the best of the options. Commissioner Cooper feels the property owners should not need to rely on neighborhood complaints to bring about action. He would feel more comfortable about this application if the shopping center representatives had been more proactive in the past. He is concerned about the 24 hour operation and the sale of liquor. He would prefer to apply stringent limitations at the beginning so that the permit does not have to have more conditions applied in the future. He feels this would be preferable than to prohibit their sale of alcohol in the future. Commissioner Cooper will not support Planning Commission Minutes Page 7 Marcb 12, 1997