The Pinole Planning Commission on Oct. 27 approved a conditional use permit allowing Quickie Mart at 1477 Fitzgerald Drive to sell beer and wine for off-site consumption (Type 20 license) after the city council adopted a required public convenience/necessity (PCN) finding on Oct. 21, 2025.

Planning Manager Andrew Hannam told the commission the store is an existing 1,300-square-foot convenience market in a regional commercial zone within a roughly 2.52-acre parcel and that Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) rules require the PCN because ABC considers census-tract concentrations when evaluating new licenses. Hannam said ABC records list multiple off-site alcohol licenses in the census tract and that Pinole Police Department had reviewed the application and raised no objections on crime‑reporting grounds.

The commission debated and edited several standard conditions of approval before voting. Commissioners asked staff to remove or combine duplicate provisions, clarify training and recordkeeping language, and limit trash-receptacle requirements to receptacles under the applicant’s control. Vice Chair Menace moved to adopt Resolution 25-09 with the following modifications (as moved on the record): strike condition 17; change condition 5 wording from “will need to be kept” to “shall be kept”; strike condition 6 and fold its 90‑day training requirement into condition 25; revise condition 18 to require removal of trash from receptacles under the applicant’s control; correct wording in condition 19; and add “the applicant shall” to the start of condition 26. The motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote, 6–0.

Applicant representatives told the commission the owner relies on the store for income and that adding beer and wine would help the business compete in the local market. A representative added a personal note that the owner is supporting an ill family member and said the license would assist the business’ viability.

Commissioners repeatedly requested clearer crime-data reporting from the police department to provide a baseline for future alcohol-permit reviews and to explain how the department determines an “average” for the crime‑reporting district. Staff said they would seek a presentation or a briefing from police on the department’s methodology.

Appeal information: The chair reminded the public that any person may appeal the planning commission’s action to the city clerk in writing within 10 days; the appeal fee is $500 with a minimum $2,500 deposit. If appealed to the council or challenged in court, appellants are limited to issues raised at the public hearing or in writing delivered prior to the hearing.