Planning commission approves Type 47 alcohol permit for Five Window Beer Company

The Lodi City Planning Commission on March 25 unanimously approved a use permit (PL2025-021U) allowing Five Window Beer Company, at 9 West Locust Street, to add a Type 47 ABC on‑sale general eating place license that permits distilled spirits for on‑site consumption and continued beer and wine sales including off‑site (to‑go) sales.

Cynthia, a city planner, told the commission the project occupies a roughly 9,000‑square‑foot building with a 3,500‑square‑foot outdoor patio. She said the site was converted from wine production to brewery production under a 2016 planning commission use permit and that the current request would add the Type 47 license while retaining the property’s existing ABC license types. Cynthia said staff concluded the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines §15301 (Class 1) because the proposal continues an existing use and does not expand the type of use.

Owner Charlie Liippard, who said he has operated Five Window Beer Company for about nine years, told the commission the business evolved from beer manufacturing to include a food program (pizza, burgers, brunch) and that a Type 47 license would “really elevate our space and bring in new opportunity.” Liippard described planned tenant improvements and an expansion of the beer‑garden area by about 3,500 square feet to add bathrooms, more bar service and lounge seating.

Commissioners asked staff and the applicant technical questions about tenant improvements, food‑vs‑alcohol sales monitoring, hours of operation and enforcement. Cynthia said tenant improvements are separate from the permit decision and that the city does not audit point‑of‑sale breakdowns for food versus alcohol — that enforcement of sale percentages would lie with state ABC where applicable. Commissioners also noted the business’s community partnerships and expressed support for the project.

A commissioner moved and seconded a resolution finding the project exempt from CEQA (Guidelines §15301), determining that the public necessity or convenience is served, and approving use permit PL2025‑021 subject to the findings and conditions contained in the resolution. The commission voted 6‑0 to approve the resolution.

The use permit is approved subject to the conditions listed in the resolution; the record does not specify any changes to hours beyond those shown in the applicant’s materials. Next steps listed by staff include implementing the tenant improvements through the normal building‑permit process, and the business must comply with the conditions of approval and applicable state ABC rules.