Planning commission approves upgraded alcohol license for Distractions Lounge despite school district opposition

Huntington Beach — The Planning Commission voted 4–2 on April 14 to deny an appeal of the zoning administrator’s approval and grant a conditional use permit allowing Distractions Lounge (16612 Beach Boulevard, Unit C) to convert from an ABC Type 42 (beer and wine) license to an ABC Type 48 (full alcohol) license, adopting police-recommended conditions and a one-year review.

The decision came after roughly two hours of staff presentation, questions about calls for service, and public testimony. Marco Cuevas, associate planner, summarized staff findings and the zoning administrator’s 02/18/2026 decision approving CUP 25-027 with conditions intended to address public-safety concerns, including prohibiting off-site consumption, requiring employee alcohol service training and surveillance, and limiting promotional pricing after 7 p.m.

The Ocean View School District’s assistant superintendent and chief business official told the commission the district opposed the upgrade and asked the commission to deny the intensification. “Adding hard alcohol will not provide role models or improve behaviors or better decision making,” the district representative said, and requested a condition prohibiting alcohol on any future patio. The district cited a cluster of alcohol- and vape-related businesses near Westmont Elementary School and noted staff’s map showing approximately 10 ABC-licensed businesses in close proximity to the school.

Peter Blythe, representing Distractions Lounge, urged the commission to reject the appeal and approve the CUP. Blythe said the business has operated at the location for decades and that the current owner — on site since 2013 — has worked with police to reduce problems. “This is a great opportunity for him to improve the viability of his business and for the city to place conditions of approval on a project that we think can work for everybody involved,” Blythe said, noting the police’s 26 specific, measurable recommended conditions and a required one-year review to verify compliance.

Commissioners asked detailed questions of staff and a Huntington Beach Police Department representative about the calls-for-service data. The police representative said five calls over three years were directly tied to Distractions Lounge; other calls appearing at the location’s address were not clearly attributable to the business after review. Commissioners disagreed on how to interpret the counts: some said calls in 2026 exceed 2025 totals and expressed concern that a Type 48 license is associated with higher incident rates; others emphasized that the CUP would give the city and police additional tools and oversight that do not exist under the status quo.

During deliberations commissioners clarified several conditions: if the CUP is approved, a condition requires a minimum of two identifiable security employees on premises on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. for operations after midnight; all beverages must remain inside (no off-site consumption); employee alcohol-service training must be ABC-approved; and the police-recommended performance metrics trigger a potential corrective action and a one-year review. The commission also added a condition to upgrade the business restrooms, a condition the applicant indicated would not be a problem.

Commissioner Theanis moved to deny the appeal (thereby approving the CUP) and to adopt the zoning administrator’s conditions with the restroom-upgrade addition; the motion was seconded and carried with four ayes and two no votes. The commission recorded that Chair Bush and Commissioner McGee voted no; Commissioner Goldberg was absent. Staff noted the Planning Commission action is final unless an appeal is filed to the City Council within 10 calendar days.

Why it matters: The approval allows an established, small-business operator to expand alcohol sales to distilled spirits within an area the school district warned could be sensitive because of its proximity to an elementary school. The city adopted a package of policing, staffing and operational conditions intended to reduce risks and set a one-year review to monitor impacts; opponents said proximity and recent incident trends justify denying the intensification.

What’s next: The decision can be appealed to the City Council within 10 calendar days. If the decision stands, staff and police will monitor calls for service and conduct the one-year review specified in the conditions of approval.

(Reporting based solely on the April 14 Planning Commission meeting transcript.)