Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves 'The Grove' development, removes adult-only liquor license from permit
Summary
After lengthy public testimony both supporting and opposing the project, Brentwood's council approved the Grove at Brentwood development with the Planning Commission's design review and a conditional use permit but directed staff to remove ABC license type 42 (adult-only/tavern) from the approval and return with modified findings.
The Brentwood City Council on June 9 approved design review (DR25-008) and a conditional use permit (CUP25-010) for The Grove at Brentwood — a proposed 35,690-square-foot multi-tenant building with an enclosed 24,000-square-foot outdoor gathering space, community theater, and 144 parking spaces — but removed ABC license type 42 (a tavern/nightclub-style license that excludes minors) from the package.
Planning staff and the applicant described the project as a mixed-use commercial venue intended to activate downtown Brentwood. Associate Planner Miguel Contreres told the council the project includes design features (tower elements, lighting, restroom facilities in the outdoor area), circulation and about 50,000 square feet of landscaping; draft conditions limited alcohol license types to 20, 21, 41 and 47 and set operations consistent with the Grove's hours (6 a.m. to midnight for the site). Contreres also noted the Planning Commission unanimously approved the project on May 5, after reviewing concerns about noise, parking and hours.
The project drew dozens of speakers. Denise Cosgrove, president of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, told the council the development would "bring residents downtown, increase foot traffic for existing businesses and strengthen Brentwood's economic vitality," and said the planning process had worked as intended. Developer Matt Hagar said he had invested years and substantial funds to bring the project forward and asked council to "let us build it," citing significant time and community support behind the proposal.
Nearby residents and other commenters urged limits on late-night activity, stricter enforcement and caution about proximity to homes. Some urged a 10 p.m. outdoor-hours cutoff or removal of certain alcohol license types to protect neighborhoods; one commenter proposed mirroring conditions applied to other recent downtown approvals. Council members raised data showing that a significant share of late-night emergency calls originate after 10 p.m., and discussed models used in nearby cities that pair staged hour extensions with incident-free monitoring.
Council compromise: After debate over the scope of permitted licenses and operating hours, council members voted to approve the project consistent with the Planning Commission while removing the type 42 (adult-only/tavern) license from the CUP. Staff and multiple council members noted that conditional use permits can be reviewed and, if necessary, revoked if conditions are violated — though staff cautioned that revocation requires documentation of infractions and due administrative process. The applicant explained the type 42 request was not intended to create a nightclub atmosphere and said such a license would be more appropriate for second-floor tenant concepts (wine bars, tasting rooms) than the first-floor public market.
What comes next: Staff will prepare a resolution and modified findings to reflect the council's direction (removal of type 42) and return to council. The applicant warned the council that the review and subsequent scheduling shifts have already delayed the project timeline and could push construction past the optimal window; even with approval, additional permitting and tenant selection remain before construction can proceed.
Key project facts: 35,690 sq ft building; 24,000 sq ft enclosed outdoor plaza; community theater; 144 parking spaces; initial CUP requested ABC types 20/21/41/42/47; council removed type 42 from the approved package.
