Planning commission approves Sprouts' request to expand off-site alcohol sales

The Redlands Planning Commission on Jan. 28 adopted Resolution No. 1696 to approve Revision No. 1 to Conditional Use Permit No. 1058, allowing Sprouts Farmers Market to convert its current type 20 (off-sale beer and wine) Alcoholic Beverage Control license to a type 21 (off-sale general) for the grocery store located on West Stewart Avenue in the Redlands Packing House District.

The change would permit sales of distilled spirits for off‑site consumption in addition to beer and wine. Staff presented the item and recommended approval based on findings in the staff report and subject to the conditions of approval attached to the resolution. The applicant was not present at the hearing. Commissioners heard no public comment and voted to approve the revision.

Staff planner Jasmine Serrato told the commission the project is a revision to an existing 30,000-square-foot grocery store and that the alcohol display area would be roughly 707 square feet, located at the rear southeast portion of the store away from main entrances. Serrato said the store would continue regular business hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., follow state ABC regulations including employee training and security-camera monitoring, and that the store operates in three shifts with about 40 employees per shift.

Serrato also noted the site lies within census tract 80.04, where state ABC rules count the tract as an area of "undue concentration": the tract's formula allows a maximum of two off‑sale licenses but staff identified nine active off‑sale licenses and one pending off‑sale license in the tract. Serrato said there would be no net increase in off‑sale licenses because Sprouts already holds a type 20 license. She also advised the commission that state law generally requires ABC to deny a license in an area of undue concentration unless the local governing body makes a determination supporting the license after reviewing the local findings and resolution.

The staff report concluded the proposal meets the findings for a conditional use permit and that the project is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review under CEQA Guideline section 15301 (existing facilities). After staff presentation and no public input, Commissioner Smith moved to adopt Resolution No. 1696 approving Revision No. 1 to CUP No. 1058; Commissioner Gonzales seconded. The chair called for a voice vote; commissioners responded "Aye" and the motion carried.

The approval is a local land‑use action that will be part of the ABC application materials sent to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department. The transcript records no guarantee that the state ABC will issue the type 21 license; the staff report noted the state may deny an application in an undue‑concentration tract unless the state receives the local body's supporting determination.

Details recorded in the staff presentation and on the record included the store size (30,000 square feet), alcohol display area (approximately 707 square feet), business hours proposed for alcohol sales (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.), and the CEQA exemption citation (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301). The applicant was reported as delayed in traffic and did not present at the hearing.

Looking ahead, the action taken by the commission is a recommendation/approval at the local level; any final change to the ABC license remains subject to state ABC review and licensing procedures.