Planning commission approves Grocery Outlet alcohol-sales permit with small-bottle restriction

The Redlands Planning Commission on Sept. 10 approved a conditional use permit allowing Grocery Outlet to sell general off-sale alcoholic beverages at a planned 16,000-square-foot grocery at 1005 West Lagonia Avenue, with an added condition banning distilled spirits sold in containers smaller than 375 milliliters.

Planning staff, represented by Jasmine Serrato, told commissioners the project sits in a commercial-designated area of the East Valley Corridor specific plan and that staff determined the proposal meets the findings for public convenience and necessity despite the census tract being identified by the ABC department as an "area of due concentration" for off-sale licenses. Serrato said the store would operate 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., employ roughly 35–40 staff per day, and use employee training and security cameras to help ensure compliance.

"Grocery stores with alcohol beverage sales are permitted with the approval of the conditional use permit," Serrato said, adding that the Redlands Police Department reviewed the proposal and had no objections.

Commissioners discussed adding a condition to prohibit the sale of small distilled-spirit containers after recalling community concerns raised during a prior Liberty Lane hearing. One commissioner said the measure was intended to reduce the availability of small "airline" or "mini" bottles often sold at liquor stores and sometimes used as single‑serve spirit shooters.

Steve Rawlings, a consultant for Grocery Outlet, said the chain generally does not sell airline-size mini bottles and that the company agreed to the condition. "That's not what we're looking for," Rawlings said of mini bottles, describing Grocery Outlet as a full-line grocery operator focused on regular grocery customers rather than convenience/liquor store traffic.

Following discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt Resolution No. 1687 approving Conditional Use Permit No. 1198 with the staff-recommended conditions plus the added Condition 14 referencing the municipal code provision prohibiting distilled spirits in containers smaller than 375 milliliters. The motion passed unanimously; the chair announced the motion carried with no opposing votes.

The project was noted as eligible for a CEQA general-rule exemption, which staff said applies when it can be seen with certainty that a proposal will not result in significant environmental impacts. Staff also noted Parcel is in Census Tract 80.04, where ABC records show more than the two off-sale licenses typically allowed by tract, which is why the local finding of public convenience and necessity was necessary for the applicant to pursue an ABC license.

Next steps: with the Planning Commission's approval and the added condition, the applicant will proceed with required entitlements and the ABC licensing process. The planning staff's resolution and conditions (including the newly added Condition 14) will be included with permit records.