Hearing Set for Monday Night on Zoning Appeals Board Decision to Deny Conditional Use Permit For Local Grocery Store

City staff is recommending the City Council uphold a Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) decision disallowing a conditional use permit (CUP) for a local market that wants to expand its business.

The owners of Linda Rose Market, located in the 1800 block of East Villa Street. The market’s owners are seeking a CUP to sell a full line of alcoholic beverages, including spirits.

However, the BZA previously found that the CUP would likely create conditions that would adversely affect the general welfare of the surrounding property owners, result in an undesirable concentration of premises for the sale of alcoholic beverages in the area, detrimentally affect the nearby surrounding area, aggravate probable problems created by the sale of alcohol, and is not in conformance with the goals, policies, and objectives of the city’s General Plan.

In order to be approved, a conditional use permit, or CUP, must lead to a substantial net employment gain on the site, a substantial increase in business taxes, and a determination that the store is a unique business addition to the community.

The CUP must also contribute to the long-term overall economic development goals of the area and the project must result in a positive upgrading of the area.

Three liquor stores are located within a mile of the market.

Police have responded to dozens of calls for service near and around Linda Rosa Market, which is located in the 1800 block of East Villa Street. The market’s owners are seeking a CUP to sell a full line of alcoholic beverages, including spirits, according to a city staff report.

From late January to early May, Pasadena police reported responding to dozens of calls for service within 500 feet of the market. The calls included complaints about theft, public disturbances, loitering, vandalism, burglary, and public drunkenness — and that was with the store selling only beer and wine.

“It is not fair for the Linda Rosa market not to expand their business into sales for hard liquor outside of beer and wine which makes up a larger portion of allotted space in this supermarket,” wrote Gerald Lee in correspondence. “For a neglible expansion into these sales which prove convenient for customers due to parking availability and simultaneous shopping for food, I think it is appropriate that the CUP 6816 should be approved as California ABC has granted authority to proceed forward in the market’s expansion into such sales. The parking lot has been repaved to accommodate customers and attract better business for this store. All restrictions should be removed and the permit should [be] approved.”