San Fernando to Withhold Permits for Liquor Sales : Moratorium: City officials plan to work with the public to write an ordinance spelling out conditions for granting future licenses.

Bowing to community pressure, the San Fernando City Council on Monday enacted an emergency 45-day moratorium on new alcohol sales permits.

During the moratorium, approved by a 4-0 vote, city officials will work with the public to write a new ordinance spelling out conditions for issuance of future sales permits.

“Let’s stay out of trouble by limiting the number of bars and location of bars,” said Ralph Harper, a former mayor who was one of 50 concerned residents who packed the City Council chambers.

Some residents have pushed for additional regulations in an effort to restrict increases in the number of outlets selling alcohol in San Fernando. In the 2.1-square-mile city, there are 32 stores that sell liquor and 23 restaurants and bars that serve it.

The effort is part of a trend visible from Santa Monica to South Los Angeles, a movement to create an environment in which drinking is less popular, less convenient and more expensive, all designed to cut down on the social ills that alcohol causes.

“All our children of our city should be able to live in this community safely,” said resident Vangie Ruiz, who said she had worked to get rid of liquor establishments that were causing problems in the past. “We need to put this to rest once and for all.”

Mike Majers, who owns a liquor store and is also a former San Fernando mayor, said he too supports the moratorium. He suggested that the city revoke conditional use permits in places that sell alcoholic drinks to minors.

“So many owners are not concerned about safety,” Majers said. “They’re interested in the almighty dollar, and they live outside the community.”

City Councilman Daniel Acuna said an important part of the issue to be discussed is the regulation of existing establishments.

San Fernando residents said they also want to see more consistency in decisions by the Planning Commission and the City Council. Community Development Director Howard Miura said there have been a few examples recently of the City Council reversing the commission’s decision on applications for conditional use permits to sell alcoholic drinks.

The reversal that triggered the biggest outcry was an application about 1 1/2 months ago by Copa Granada, a Mexican seafood restaurant on Workman Street, to sell hard liquor, Miura said. The year-old restaurant already had a license to sell wine and beer.

The strip mall where Copa Granada is located also contains another restaurant, a supermarket, a liquor store and a meat market--all of which sell alcohol, Miura said.

Neighbors opposed issuance of the license, and the Planning Commission refused to grant it, Miura said. But restaurant owner Pancho Valenzuela appealed the decision.

Despite additional public outcry against granting the permit, the City Council overturned the commission decision by a 3-2 vote. “It became very emotional and somewhat hostile,” Miura said of the public’s reaction.

Many residents subsequently called for an ordinance specifying the grounds for granting conditional use permits. The city hopes to reach a consensus through workshops discussing the regulations, Miura said.

Three months ago, the city drew up guidelines for granting permits to stores that sell alcohol for consumption elsewhere, Miura said. For example, no liquor shops can be within 600 feet of a school of 300 feet of a church. Those guidelines may be incorporated in an ordinance.

The city currently has no such restrictions for granting licenses for bars and restaurants, considering them instead on a case-by-case basis, Miura said.

Even Valenzuela said that he would like to see more consistency. He said that he decided to appeal the Planning Commission’s decision to refuse his permit after he saw the commission approve a permit for a grocery store.

“They should look at their policies,” he said. “Let’s be consistent.”