Beer and wine, general grocery items to be sold at gas stations
Beer and wine sales will be allowed at Redondo Beach gas stations after a 4-1 city council vote Sept. 19, the change to also include full-size grocery items – which was the thrust to alter the policy after some station owners sought permission.
By state law, general grocery items include beer and wine. The new city rule applies only to businesses outside the Coastal Zone.
In city council comments, District Four Representative Zein Obagi, Jr., talked about how the added sales will help business owners in this climate of high gas prices (thus less sold) and burgeoning electric cars.
Councilman Nils Nehrenheim spoke to keep the ban, saying he is “philosophy opposed” to this category of action but cited Redondo Beach Police and Beach Cities Health District’s opposition to the change, and his own concerns about higher density of alcohol sales adding to issues of public intoxication, homelessness, addiction and perhaps violent crime.
“Until we solve those issues in our community, and the broader scope in the South Bay and L.A. County as a whole, I would not be in favor of this right now,” he said. “Maybe at a future date.”
Councilmember Paige Kaludoerovic said that the ban puts an undue burden on a certain type of business.
“… You guys have 250 places to get alcohol in Redondo Beach, this’ll add maybe five more,” said Nehrenheim.
Obagi made the motion to lift the ban, with a second from Councilman Scott Behrendt. Todd Loewenstein joined them and Kaluderovic to approve the new policy.
The council will take a second vote in October to confirm it.
Residential design standards confirmed 3-2
The Redondo Beach city council voted 3-2 to confirm new residential architectural design standards Sept. 19 after a round of comments saying to wait on the decision, and others saying a deadline is now and the city will lose a $100,000 grant from the state department of Housing and Community Development if it delays. Others disputed that.
Councilman Nils Nehrenheim said to send it back to the planning commission, as did Councilman Todd Loewenstein.
“I would highly recommend we’re very cautious,” Loewenstein said. “This is going to set the rules for housing for the next 20-30 years. Let’s push it back to the planning commission.”
Planning commission member Doug Boswell said as much too.
“The planning commission sweat blood to get this right, it turns out we were advised improperly,” he said, referring to the latest state housing bills and what would be legal and illegal. “If we had another year, we could do this right, with the right (legal input). If we’ve got a year, for God’s sake, let’s get it right.”
City Manager Mike Witzansky said the grant deadline did not allow the time.
Voting to confirm the design standards were councilmembers Zein Obagi, Jr., Paige Kaluderovic and Scott Behrendt. ER
