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Council approves amended purchase agreement to allow 'Blanco' event center in downtown Livermore
Summary
Council approved consent calendar items including a second amendment to the purchase‑and‑sale agreement for the former SBC building to permit initial use as a restaurant with bar or an event center (proposed name: Blanco); the planning commission will separately consider the conditional use permit and staff said traffic, parking and operating hours will be addressed through the CUP.
Staff presented a second amendment to the purchase‑and‑sale agreement for the former SBC building (corner of South Livermore Avenue and Second Street) that would change the property’s defined initial use from a restaurant with a bar to “restaurant with bar or event center.” Staff indicated the exterior architecture approved by the planning commission in 2022 will remain and said the proposed event center would be called "Blanco."
Jennifer Ackerman, city staff, told council that the planning commission will consider the conditional use permit (CUP) for the event center separately and that traffic engineering would review circulation and parking during the CUP process. Ackerman said the project will be conditioned to operate outside peak hours to address congestion concerns and that the applicant has discussed shuttle buses and parking lease agreements with nearby property owners to serve guests. "The proposed name of the event center will be Blanco," Ackerman said.
Councilmembers asked how parking and circulation would be addressed; Ackerman replied those details are part of the upcoming CUP review, noting diagonal striped parking, restriping to meet current codes, ADA requirements, and the imminent downtown parking garage as available capacity.
Councilmember Dunbar moved to approve consent items 6.1 through 6.3; Vice Mayor Evan Branning seconded. The mayor called the vote and the motion passed unanimously. The consent calendar vote approved the amendment authorizing the city manager to sign the second amendment for the SBC property; the planning commission will later consider the CUP for the event center.
