Planning commission approves alcohol service in Brewport Taphouse axe-throwing area with conditions after neighbor complaints

The El Segundo Planning Commission on March 13 ratified the Community Development Directors approval to allow alcohol service in a new 120-square-foot outdoor accessory area used for supervised axe throwing at Brewport Taphouse, 200—204 Main Street, and attached conditions including an 8 p.m. limit, signage and a follow-up monitoring plan.

Planning staff member Jasmine presented the proposal and said Brewport would continue to operate under its existing ABC Type 47 license and was not seeking changes to the restaurants overall hours. Jasmine said the new axe-throwing area would be limited to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and would not include dining tables or food service in that rear 120-square-foot area.

Jasmine told commissioners that staff conducted ambient noise readings in the alley directly behind the axe cage and at a corner residence. She reported ambient noise measured up to 68 decibels and that noise from axe throwing measured up to 72.9 decibels, which staff said complies with the El Segundo Municipal Code noise standards for short-duration events.

Applicant Christian Krieger, owner of Brewport Taphouse, said the axe throwing is a separately booked activity supervised by the axe-throwing operator, not open access. "We volunteered the 8PM as kind of like a nice compromise," Krieger said, describing the businesss willingness to limit late-night activity.

Matt McCullough, owner of the axe-throwing operator Hatchet Helm, described structural changes made to reduce sound: reorienting the structure toward the alley, adding rubber facing and thicker targets. "We actually faced it toward the alley now...we encased that in rubber...it actually just deadens the sound completely," McCullough said, adding he had intentionally thrown hard during staff readings to test worst-case levels.

Neighbors directly behind the site disagreed that the mitigation was sufficient. Resident Tony Martini said the activity frequently starts while he is still at work and described sustained cheering and yelling that he hears from his apartment. "I get up 4:00 in the morning... I get home at 6 at night. Many times I get home, the axe throwing is already starting. I would love to come home and sit down, have a peaceful dinner, relax. I can't do that," Martini said.

Apartment owner John Bassick asked whether alcohol should be allowed in what he described as a parking-lot area. Staff explained the 120-square-foot accessory area is adjacent to but does not displace required parking spaces and that the commissions action concerns alcohol service in that defined area.

Commission discussion focused on the proximity of the nearest sensitive receptor (residential units across a narrow alley), the recent noise readings (one taken March 2), and possible enforcement and monitoring options. Staff proposed and the commission added conditions requiring signage reminding patrons of nearby residences, a staff monitoring report back in three months (including unannounced decibel readings during actual axe-throwing activity), and that staff make a good-faith effort to obtain permission to take readings within affected residential properties.

The commissions action formally received and filed the directors decision approving Environmental Assessment EA1166 Revision B and Administrative Use Permit AUP 1611 Revision B with the added conditions. The motion passed 3—0.

The directors approval allows the defined outdoor accessory area to be used for supervised axe throwing with alcohol permitted to be consumed there under the restaurants existing ABC Type 47 license, subject to the conditions the commission added.

The commissions decision does not alter the citys noise ordinance or the ABC licensing process; code enforcement and police remain the agencies to respond to future complaints and to document any pattern of noncompliance that could lead to further action.

A staff monitoring report, including any new decibel readings and a summary of complaint calls received after 8 p.m., will be presented to the commission three months after approval, per the conditions the commission imposed.