El Cajon council opens discussion on loosening downtown alcohol rules, asks staff to draft options for Planning Commission

The El Cajon City Council discussed possible amendments to the downtown master plan to allow more on‑sale alcohol establishments and directed staff to prepare draft options for the Planning Commission to consider.

Assistant City Manager Vince DiMaggio reviewed a 1995 zoning change that added distance requirements effectively zoning out new bar‑only establishments downtown and presented three alternatives for council direction: take no action; remove distance requirements to allow on‑sale alcohol uses; or create a set of criteria that would allow a limited number of bars within a defined downtown area. "The staff report noted 3 potential alternatives," DiMaggio told the council.

Council members broadly supported exploring ways to revive downtown activity. Council member Michelle Mitchell argued the city needs to "bring El Cajon up to, 2024 and beyond," advocating for loosening the code to attract entertainment and tasting‑room concepts. Other members suggested starting with a very small number of new on‑sale establishments (for example, two) to test outcomes and to carefully define downtown boundaries so new uses improve the urban core rather than locate next to freeways or incompatible areas.

Several council members emphasized conditional use permits as a control mechanism. DiMaggio and staff advised that amendments could require each on‑sale applicant to obtain a conditional use permit, allowing the Planning Commission to evaluate overconcentration, public convenience, and necessity at the permit stage.

Council consensus was to send direction to staff: prepare draft amendments and return them to the Planning Commission for review before bringing recommendations back to council. No ordinance was adopted; next steps are staff drafting and Planning Commission review.