NEWPORT BEACH : City Rules Against Gas Station Marts

A longstanding Newport Beach policy of not allowing gas stations to operate mini-marts has been kept intact with a City Council decision to continue to prohibit those businesses despite a request by a station owner to change the ordinance.

Most council members agreed that service stations should not be allowed to sell beer and wine--a policy that the city would not be able to enforce if the mini-marts were allowed.

According to the city attorney’s office, state codes would not let the city prohibit the sale of alcoholic “to go” beverages, such as beer and wine, at stations that sell mini-mart goods.

The council voted unanimously to keep the stations from selling any convenience products.

The decision pleased area residents in the Big Canyon community who had lobbied against the change, saying the mini-markets would encourage people to “hang out” at the corner station and would not provide any needed service to area residents not already available from local markets.

The operator of a Texaco station at the corner of Jamboree and San Joaquin Hills roads requested the rule change. He had argued that the extra service was needed to compete with service stations in other cities and to cover increasing rents in Newport Beach.

The council, however, agreed with the Planning Commission, which had denied the mini-marts but approved other changes to gas stations. The council agreed to allow the stations to operate mechanical carwashes and required stations to have restrooms.