Planning Commission approves beer-and-wine sales at Whittier Village Cinema

The Whittier Planning Commission on March 17 voted to approve a conditional use permit allowing beer and wine sales at Whittier Village Cinema, a historic eight-screen theater at 7038 Greenleaf Avenue.

Assistant planner Crystal Arroyo told commissioners that the application (CUP250008) is categorically exempt from further environmental review as an existing facility and that staff recommended adopting the resolution with conditions of approval. Arroyo said the site is in the Uptown Whittier specific plan and noted prior approvals allowing expanded hours to 2 a.m.

Vice Chair Quirk and others pressed staff and the applicant on how the theater would prevent minors from obtaining alcohol while inside the building. Arroyo said alcohol would be sold at the concession stand and that employees would check identification, and she noted that police-department conditions are included in the resolution. Kevin Franklin, the applicant’s representative and a retired ABC agent, said the operator’s theaters require staff training and that the operator places staff at exits to discourage patrons from leaving with drinks. “The staff at the theaters will, of course, attend all the ABC-mandated training for those purposes,” Franklin said.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. After the presentation and questions, a commissioner moved to adopt staff’s recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote. The commission recorded no no-votes and the resolution carried.

The conditional use permit allows on-site sale and consumption of beer and wine under a Type 41 ABC authorization, and the approval includes the conditions referenced in the staff report and attachments. The commission’s action authorizes staff to finalize the resolution and implement the listed conditions.

The commission moved on to other items on the agenda after the vote.