Commentary: Newport Planning Commission erred in allowing gas station market to sell beer, wine

The Newport Beach Planning Commission’s Vision Statement is as follows:

“A responsive, knowledgeable team of professionals guiding community development in the public interest.”

In contradiction, the Planning Commission’s decision to allow yet one more convenience store selling alcohol in an already crime-infested area is not in the public’s interest. It is obvious that the public needs to guide the city (“Newport planning commission OKs alcohol sales for gas station market,” Jan. 19)

It all started out that night with a description of a 4,000-square-foot building, a security site plan that would be surrounded by a network of surveillance cameras, high-powered nighttime perimeter lighting, padlocks and increased police patrols.

One property owner of a medical building stood at the podium at last week’s Planning Commission meeting and described the mayhem at his complex, in which medical professionals are being accosted and harassed by transients in the area. The foul smell of vomit and feces surrounds his building; he stated that most of these incidents were alcohol-related and that beer and wine are the alcohol of choice.

Most residents who attended the meeting thought that perhaps the new 4,000-square-foot building was going to be a police substation. However, the plan is to build a super-sized convenience store that will be attached to the existing 76 gas station on Superior Avenue. Ironically, this new project is less than 100 feet from the 7-Eleven convenience store directly across the street.

More perplexing is that Commissioner Kory Kramer was absent during the public testimony and he did not have the ability to hear what the community had to say about the project and its negative impacts with regard to the surrounding businesses, property owners and residents. Interestingly enough, when Kramer arrived much later in the evening he was able to submit a “yes” vote that eventually allowed the gas station to obtain their alcohol license.

Planning commissioners should be entrusted with protecting the health, safety and general welfare of the residents and businesses by promoting and maintaining the quality of life and this should include West Newport Beach, not just Newport Coast.

PEGGY V. PALMER lives in Newport Beach.