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Council denies off‑sale alcohol permit at La Corona Market amid neighborhood safety concerns
Summary
The Salinas City Council on May 6 denied a conditional use permit for off‑sale alcohol at La Corona Market, citing undue concentration of alcohol outlets and high local crime rates in the police reporting district. The decision follows planning commission deadlock and public comment opposing more off‑sale licenses in the neighborhood.
The Salinas City Council voted unanimously May 6 to deny a conditional use permit that would have allowed off‑sale alcohol sales (a type 20 ABC-style off‑sale license) at La Corona Market, a grocery at 695 East Alisal Street. City planning staff had forwarded the application to council after a 2–2 tie vote at the Planning Commission left the matter to the council for final determination.
Staff identified the site as being in an area of “undue concentration” for off‑sale alcohol because the census tract already contained more active off‑sale outlets than the state‑recommended allowance and because reported crime in Police Reporting District 52 was substantially higher than the city average. The staff report noted the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) rules about public convenience or necessity and presented distances from nearby parks and schools to the proposed outlet (the nearest park about 830 feet; nearest school about 630 feet by staff estimate). Salinas Police Department staff provided a memorandum stating they did not object provided conditions (digital surveillance, lighting) were added; however councilmembers and many public commenters said the concentration and proximity to sensitive sites warranted denial.
Public comment at the council meeting included neighborhood residents, community organizers and advocates who said the East Alisal area already had many outlets selling alcohol and described quality‑of‑life issues, open drinking and proximity to prostitution and encampment sites. Several residents said the neighborhood hosts many children and schoolwalk routes, and argued that another off‑sale license would make alcohol easier to access.
Applicant representatives said the sale was intended as customer convenience (selling lager packs, not single‑can sales) and said they would enforce ID checks, limit offerings to multi‑packs and operate during standard store hours. The planning staff noted the license being transferred had been dormant at another address for years.
After public comment and discussion, Councilmember Barrera moved to deny the conditional use permit, citing undue concentration and the high crime rate in the reporting district. The motion passed on roll call; the council recorded each member’s vote. The denial is the council’s final determination; staff said a revised resolution would be drafted to memorialize the denial.
Ending: The council’s decision leaves the applicant the option to reapply or pursue administrative options outside the conditional use permit process, including an ABC application separate from the planning review; the city noted that ABC licensing and local land‑use approvals are independent processes.
