RECAP of the PROTEST against TACO BEACH license

  RECAP of TACO BEACH Neighborhood ACTIONS and FINAL ABC Permit

On August 30, 2012, the California Alcohol Beverage Control (ABD) mailed a letter to the Abbeyfield/ Daggett residents within 100 feet of the former Best Place Café at 2099 Bellflower Ave. informing them of an application for a full liquor license from the operators of the Pine Avenue Taco Beach Cantina. The proposed hours on the application were 8 am to 2 am- 7 days a week.

Concerned Abbeyfield/Daggett neighborhood residents contacted the ABC and Councilman  O’Donnell’s office about the application. 

A formal and legal protest petition signed by 48 neighbors was filed with the ABC.



Rooftops of residential bedrooms behind Los Altos Taco Beach



A meeting was arranged with the owner of Taco Beach by Councilman O’Donnell.

Residents prepared for the October 4, 2012 LB Planning Commission Meeting with packets that included the ABC Petition Protest and pictures of the neighborhood surrounding the proposed.

City Staff recommended the hours of 8-10 weekdays and 8- 11 on weekends to the Planning Commission. In issuing a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), the LB Planning Commission imposed hours consistent with the neighborhood- 9 pm on weekdays and 10 pm on weekends (Friday/Saturday). In addition to other restrictions, the patio would close at 8:00 pm every night.  Residents did not appeal this decision to the LB City Council. However, the residents were concerned that these restrictions would only be in place for one year.

Residents obtained site plans that included a “new” patio bump out onto Abbyfield Street.
On October 14, Sherbert Jones of the LB Building Department responded by email to residents about the intent of Taco Beach to apply for a Public Walk Ways Occupancy Permit. In his email he stated “We (Public Works) have made notes of those of you who oppose approval of this permit.  We will do our best to keep you all posted as this matter is worked out.”

In December, a visit to the Lakewood ABC reveled that they were not aware of the LB Planning Commission CUP. They would get a copy of it to research it for the permit process.

On Friday March 8, the ABC emailed the "proposed” ABC license to protestors. The proposal included the hours of 10 pm for weekdays and 11 pm for week nights.  After receiving concerns from a number of  protestors about the change of hours from the LB CUP- the ABC was contacted and told thr protest would continue unless the hours reflected the compromise hours the LB Planning Commission issued in the CUP.

March 13, 2013 ABC the emailed the conditional license with the CUP hours and the Taco Beach  owner’s signature and initials.  Unlike the CUP ( which expires in 1 year)  these will stay with the BUILDING and will be permanent.

The Taco Beach owner has agreed to the ABC restrictions that reflect the hours of the LB CUP-

8 am – 9 pm on weekdays 

8 am – 10 pm on Friday and Saturday night.

The patio would close EVERY night at 8 pm to serving and "alcohol comsumption".

 In addition other ABC restrictions include:Alcohol sales may not exceed food sales in any quarter.
No outside advertisement or signs of any kind.
No Live entertainment, amplified sound or dancing.
A single jukebox or stereo-not audible from outside.
No loitering and must keep his area litter free.
 

In addition the LB CUP restrictions would EXPIRE in 1 year include:

No advertising to CSULB students.

No smoking allowed outside on the sidewalk.