Hermosa Beach finalizes cap on number of late night bars [UPDATE]
The City Council last week finalized a cap on the number of late-night drinking establishments. The limit was set at 36, five fewer than the current total of 41 establishments that serve liquor past 11 p.m. The resolution amending the municipal code also assigned occupancy capacities for all establishments with late-night Conditional Use Permits, or full liquor licenses. If an establishment remodels and wants to raise its occupancy capacity, the City Council now has the ability to approve or deny any such CUP amendment request. City officials hope to roll back the total number of late-night drinking establishments over time as properties change use. City officials also will offer incentives in the hopes businesses will voluntarily reduce their late-night alcohol serving hours in exchange for city-granted entitlements, such as permits for live entertainment and dancing. Beach Cities restaurateur Sandy Seaman said the city won’t reduce the number of late-night CUPs through the amendment as envisioned. “No bar owner is going to sell a single stitch of an hour,” said Seaman, who favored lowering the cap to 30. The City Council voted 4-1 to approve the “No Intensification of Late Night…
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