Hearing Officer to Decide Permit Request for Alcohol Sales, Two Variances and a Hillside Development Permit

Pasadena’s Hearing Officer on Wednesday will hear public comments about an application by Linda Rosa Market, located at 1827 E. Villa Street in Council District 2, for a conditional use permit that would allow the off-site sale of a full line of alcoholic beverages – beer, wine, and distilled spirits – at the 3,782 square-foot grocery store. 

According to a Department of Planning and Community Development report, the site has been selling beer and wine for off-site consumption since 1990, based on an Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Liquor License, Type 20. The sale of beer and wine in the market is considered “Deemed Approved” according to the Pasadena Municipal Code, as CUPs for alcohol sales were not required at that time. 

This new application for a CUP is a request for an upgrade from limited to full alcohol sales, the Planning Department said. 

According to the report, the department has recommended disapproval of the CUP, citing the fact that “the proposal for alcohol sales is in close proximity to existing residential, educational and religious uses.” 

“It is staff’s assessment that the sale of a full line of alcohol for off-site consumption at the site would negatively impact the general welfare of the surrounding property owners, would result in an undesirable concentration of premises that sell alcohol in the vicinity, would aggravate existing alcohol-related problems, and that the necessary findings cannot be made to approve the proposed conditional use permit or make a finding of ‘public convenience or necessity,’” the report said. 

Also on the agenda for Wednesday’s special meeting by the Hearing Officer is a variance application by the owner of the home at 1904 Wagner Street in Council District 2 to allow a 515 square-foot addition to the existing one-story single-family residence, a variance application at 1495 Pegfair Estates Drive in Council District 6 to  allow construction of an accessory structure within the front yard area, and an application for a hillside development permit at 515 Covington Place, also in District 6, for the construction of a 1,334 square-foot addition and a new 1,203 square-foot basement to the existing 3,181 square foot, two-story single-family residence.

The meeting, conducted via video conference, begins at 5:30 p.m. 

Members of the public may access the meeting through https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86982441150 or by calling (669) 900-6833 and using the webinar ID 869 8244 1150. 

Comments may be sent in advance by email to tmolinar@cityofpasadena.net before Wednesday, or submitted through www.cityofpasadena.net/planning/public-comment.