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Council denies conditional use permit for off‑sale alcohol at La Corona Market amid concerns about proximity to schools and crime
Summary
Salinas City Council voted to deny a conditional use permit to transfer an off‑sale (Type 20) beer and wine license to La Corona Market at 695 E. Alisal after staff noted the site sits inside a designated area of undue alcohol concentration and police reported elevated crime levels nearby.
The Salinas City Council on May 6 denied a conditional use permit request from RJ Liquor, Inc. to establish off‑sale alcohol sales (a Type 20 ABC license for beer and wine) at La Corona Market, 695 East Alisal Street.
Planning staff told the council that the application required council review because the market would be in a census tract that the city and state consider an area of “undue concentration” for alcohol outlets. Planning staff reported the nearest park and school distances were well under the city averages used in prior analyses — about 830 feet to the nearest park and about 630 feet to the nearest school — and noted police reporting district statistics showed higher crime counts in the area. The police department memorandum on the application said it did “not object” only if standard conditions were adopted, including digital surveillance and improved lighting.
Neighbors, community advocates and city council members who spoke during the hearing raised concerns about the number of alcohol outlets already in the immediate area, the site’s proximity to schools and a park, and local quality‑of‑life problems that speakers said included prostitution and public intoxication within walking distance.
Representatives for the applicant said the proposed off‑sale area would be a small part of the business (they described dedicating a few shelving units to packaged beer and wine, no single‑serve cans) and that the store would close at 8 p.m. for evening sales. Applicants emphasized compliance with ID checks, cameras and standard conditions.
Councilmember Barrera moved to deny the conditional use permit; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote. The council’s denial is the final local determination under the planning code for this application; staff noted that denial language will be included in the adopting resolution and that the decision is the city council’s final action on the CUP application.
Votes at a glance: Council voted to deny the conditional use permit by unanimous roll‑call.
