Planning Commission approves 7‑Eleven use permit for distilled spirits, late‑night hours with security conditions

The Lake Forest Planning Commission on June 5 approved a use permit allowing the 7‑Eleven at 24366 Murelins Boulevard to sell beer, wine and distilled spirits and to continue late‑night operation, subject to conditions including added security at the rear of the store and a validity clause tying the permit to issuance of a Type 21 liquor license.

Staff said the store has sold alcohol at that location since 1993 and has operated 24 hours a day since before a 2012 zoning update. Connor Musler, planning staff, told commissioners the proposal adds a 4‑by‑2 foot, employee‑accessed distilled‑spirits cabinet behind the register and seeks to formalize the store’s late‑night hours through a use permit.

Musler said the commission had continued the item from May 8 to gather Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) calls‑for‑service for the site. OCSD provided 37 calls for service from April 2022 to April 2025, eight of which occurred during late‑night hours (midnight–5 a.m.), and 17 of the 37 were recorded as 415 disturbance calls. Musler said one brandishing incident was reported at the location but that it occurred during daytime hours, not during the late‑night period under consideration.

The draft resolution adds a validity statement stating the use permit “shall be effective only upon issuance of a Type 21 license.” The resolution also includes conditions requiring security measures: the applicant has agreed to install an additional security camera and fencing for the landscaped area at the rear of the store; staff will verify compliance prior to finalizing the permit. Musler said the added validity clause addressed the applicant’s earlier concern about the commission’s standard condition requiring two employees during late‑night hours.

Bruce Evans, speaking for the applicant, said the camera is already installed and fence bids have been solicited. "They've already solicited bids, and we expect the fence will be installed, bridal of next week. The video camera has already been installed," Evans told commissioners.

After brief commissioner questions about the calls‑for‑service detail and the timing of the brandishing report, the commission closed the public hearing and voted to approve the use permit. The motion passed unanimously.

The approval requires the applicant to obtain the Type 21 license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and to maintain the store substantially in conformance with the approved plans and security conditions; staff also recommended employee ABC training and that no changes be made to the approved alcohol locations without return to the city for review.