Residents Cheer Denial of Liquor Sale Permits

The City Council this week rejected two requests for liquor sale permits, drawing applause from about 50 residents who said that sales of liquor and tobacco to under-age youths is getting out of hand.

The primary target for citizens who turned out for Tuesday night’s meeting was an Asian food market proposed at Placentia Avenue and Bastanchury Road, across from Sierra Vista Elementary School.

Nearly 100 residents signed a petition asking council members to overturn the Planning Commission’s approval of a conditional use permit allowing liquor sales at the Asian market.

“I’m opposed to it 100%, just because of the fact that it’s across the street from a school,” said parent Peter Nance, who circulated the petition.

Businessman Devinder Jhawar responded to residents’ opposition to his plan with criticism.

“All these parents who are here, I’d like to know how much time they spend on their kids,” he said at the meeting. “They spend almost four hours coming here. They haven’t spent one minute on their kids to tell them not to go in a liquor store.”

Sierra Vista School parent Debbie Myrick said that, even without the sale of alcohol, she would be concerned about the business generating more traffic near the school.

“How much further is it going to endanger our schoolchildren, who already have to cross a very busy street?” Myrick asked.

Council members also overturned Planning Commission approval for beer and wine sales at a delicatessen planned for Placentia Avenue between Yorba Linda Boulevard and Bastanchury Road.

Said Councilman Norman Z. Eckenrode: “We’ve got to draw a line somewhere and say, ‘That’s enough.’ ”