LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Controls on Sale of Alcohol Proposed
Los Angeles County appears poised to begin requiring conditional-use permits for any businesses that sell alcohol, a measure patterned after a 1985 Los Angeles city ordinance used to control the location and operating hours of liquor stores.
The additional controls have been advocated for a decade by Lancaster resident Ray Chavira, who was appointed last month to the county’s Commission on Alcoholism by Supervisor Gloria Molina.
Members of the county Regional Planning Commission on Thursday sent a proposed ordinance back to planning staff for revisions, but only because commissioners wanted to see it strengthened.
In particular, they asked that the measure include all restaurants that serve liquor along with bars and liquor stores.
Presently, new liquor outlets that meet zoning regulations must only seek a building permit, although they frequently have to abide by conditions set by the state to obtain a liquor license.
Chavira expressed optimism that the ordinance will pass this year.
It failed twice in the past because only Supervisors Kenneth Hahn and Mike Antonovich would support it.
But Molina has indicated that she shares their concerns.
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