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Council approves PCN findings for Trader Joe’s and nearby gas‑market license; one council dissent on gas‑market upgrade
Summary
The council found public convenience served for a Type 21 license for a Trader Joe’s grocery and for conversion of a gas‑market license to a Type 21; Trader Joe’s approval was unanimous and the gas‑station conversion passed 4–1, with Council Member Strong opposing.
The El Paso de Robles City Council on April 21 issued two public‑convenience findings under state ABC guidance that facilitate sale of distilled spirits at two new or existing retail locations in the same census tract along Golden Hill Road.
Assistant Planner Sam Rickliffs told the council the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control had flagged an “undue concentration” of off‑sale alcohol licenses in Census Tract 102.07. State law lets a local governing body make a Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN) finding to support a license if the local facts and use are consistent with community norms and local land use.
- Trader Joe’s (2457 Golden Hill Road): Staff recommended approval because the proposed usage is consistent with nearby grocery stores that already sell packaged alcohol. The council approved the PCN by unanimous vote.
- Mobile gas‑market (2401 Golden Hill Road): An existing Type 20 (beer and wine) licenseholder sought a conversion to a Type 21 (which includes distilled spirits). Staff concluded converting an existing beer‑and‑wine license to Type 21 does not increase the number of outlets in the tract and recommended approval. The council approved the finding 4–1; Council Member Strong cast the lone dissenting vote.
Assistant Planner Rickliffs said ABC’s undue‑concentration metric is population‑based and does not account for sales volume by outlet; staff considered use type (grocery stores vs. hotels/gas stations) and local land‑use context in its recommendation.
Council members who spoke said they weighed ABC’s numerical concentration determination against land‑use consistency (grocery anchors in a shopping center and longstanding gas‑market operations) before approving the PCNs.
What happens next: The PCN is a local finding the ABC uses in its license determination; the state agency retains authority to issue or deny licenses, but ABC typically defers to local land‑use and PCN findings in its decision‑making.
