City Staff Stays Out of Circle K Alcohol Debate

Usually city staff has a recommendation for how the  should vote on permit applications. But for  at the  on Pacific Coast Highway off Rambla Pacifico Road, staff has chosen not to offer an opinion.

"Staff requests direction from the Planning Commission as to whether the evidence in the record supports or opposes the approval of [a conditional use permit] to allow the off-site sale of beer and wine at the existing convenience store," Senior Planner Stephanie Danner wrote in the staff report for the hearing that is expected to take place next Tuesday.

The proposal calls for a permit to sell beer and wine, a privilege the storeowners were denied when they submitted an application in 2007 to build the convenience store and 76 gas station on the property. Some residents, including those who live in the condo complex behind the store, oppose the proposal and say it will harm the quality of life in the area, among other objections. The staff report (which is attached to this article) includes signed petitions for and against the proposal.

According to the staff report, the owners plan to use a private security company to patrol the property and a security guard would be present on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

"In addition to the physical presence of roving security patrols and onsite security guard, the applicant proposes to utilize security cameras installed for the direct and ongoing monitoring of the premises," the staff report states.

The Sarraf family, which owns the business, also needs an alcohol license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Don Schmitz of , the planning consultant firm hired to handle the application, told Malibu Patch last week that his client would apply for the license after completing the municipal process. The Planning Commission's decision can be appealed to the . 

Also on the agenda for Tuesday is a Caltrans' application to complete a project that is supposed to remove the final obstacles for steelhead trout migration from the ocean to Solstice Creek. The application calls for the reconstruction of a Pacific Coast Highway bridge culvert, stream channel with rock weirs and step-pools near  restaurant. The city of Malibu and various other state and federal government agencies are involved in the project.

City staff has recommended the commission approve the application. The staff report is attached to this article.

The commission's meeting at  will begin at 6:30 p.m.