Moratorium OKd on Alcohol Permits
The Moorpark City Council has slapped a temporary moratorium on new permits for the sale of alcohol, the first step in straightening out a tangled set of liquor license requirements.
Council members unanimously approved the measure, which will expire Jan. 18, at their Wednesday meeting.
Moorpark officials said the move would give them time to revise the city’s permit requirements, which contain inconsistencies and do not match the requirements set by the state. For instance, one city policy requires only an administrative permit--issued by city staff members--for the sale of alcoholic beverages, while another requires that the Planning Commission and City Council review the application.
Under state regulations, gas stations that want to sell alcohol must receive a type of permit that can be issued only after a public hearing.
Only one Moorpark business, La Playita restaurant, is now seeking a permit. The council specifically exempted the restaurant from the temporary moratorium.
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