Planning commission approves Hotel Hermosa patio beer-and-wine for guests with conditions

The Hermosa Beach Planning Commission on Aug. 19 approved an amendment to the hotel’s conditional use permit to allow on-site consumption of beer and wine on the existing outdoor patio at 2515 Pacific Coast Highway.

Staff said the amendment expands a prior indoor-only approval and is limited to hotel guests under existing conditions, with new limits for the outdoor patio. Johnny Case, the project planner, told commissioners the hotel is in the C-3 general commercial zone and that the proposal is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act as a Class 1 categorical exemption. "The applicant, Jennifer Oden, on behalf of Pacifica Food and Beverage Incorporated is requesting the planning commission approve a conditional use permit amendment to allow for on-site consumption of beer and wine on the existing outdoor patio for hotel guests only," Case said during his presentation.

The commission’s action followed a staff recommendation that included explicitly limited hours and operational controls. Under the approved conditions, consumption on the 4,838-square-foot outdoor patio is permitted Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The point of sale must remain inside the hotel, no alcohol will be served to the patio by wait staff, and sales will be limited to beer and wine only. The hotel was described in staff materials as a roughly 37,620-square-foot property.

The amendment was reviewed by city departments, including the police department, which "does not object to the proposed CUP amendment subject to conditions of approval," Case said. Staff noted that the proposal had been evaluated against required findings in Hermosa Beach Municipal Code section 17.56.0.05 and related criteria and had been found consistent with General Plan goals 1, policy 1.5 and policy 1.7.

Jennifer Oden, representing the applicant Pacifica Hotels, said the company’s intent is to offer the amenity to hotel guests and to support corporate bookings and quiet events. "The intent from Pacifica is to service its guests of the hotel, not a ResortPass one-day $20 guest," Oden said, adding that Pacifica had invested in renovations and would comply with the proposed conditions.

Neighbors raised concerns during public comment about noise, marijuana odor and late-night activity. David Sherwood, president of the Seaview Village Homeowners Association, told commissioners his association "strongly oppose[d]" the outdoor expansion, saying residents can see and hear activity on the patio and that adding alcohol service “will only bring in louder guests.” Supporters, including several residents and business owners, said the hotel is a gateway property and that adding the amenity helps local tourism and nearby businesses.

After discussion, the Planning Commission adopted the staff resolution approving the conditional use permit amendment and the CEQA exemption. The motion carried 5-0.

The approval includes standard monitoring and enforcement language. Staff told commissioners that conditions require ongoing monitoring by city staff and that the applicant agreed to the conditions of approval. The project record shows 279 mailed notices within a 500-foot radius and newspaper and on-site notices published per municipal code.

The decision does not change other, earlier resolutions that remain in force unless explicitly rescinded; staff clarified that some prior conditions tied to earlier approvals continue to apply. The amended CUP becomes part of the property record and is enforceable under the city’s zoning and code enforcement processes.