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Planning commission approves conditional use permit to reestablish Alibi bar at 744 and 754 9th Street
Summary
The Arcadia Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit allowing the Alibi to reopen as a phased alcohol‑service then restaurant operation at 744 and 754 9th Street, subject to conditions on hours, noise, property maintenance and plaza improvements, and a 24‑month phasing requirement for food service.
The Arcadia Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit allowing the long‑standing Alibi bar to reestablish operations at 744 and 754 9th Street under largely the same conditions that governed its prior approval.
Senior Planner Delo Freitas told commissioners the application would reinstate the prior use with only modest changes: phased reopening (alcohol service first, food later), a slightly narrowed operating window of 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. instead of the previous 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., and adherence to plaza‑specific noise and property‑maintenance rules. "They are currently proposing to operate, from 8AM to 2AM," Freitas said during the staff presentation. Freitas also noted coordination with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; ABC cannot issue a license until the city issues the use permit and any local conditions are met.
The applicant said the initial plan is to pursue a Type 48 alcohol license and convert or modify the license when the second phase — a restaurant in the older portion of the building — is ready. The applicant described substantial interior damage from prior neglect and a fire and estimated rehabilitation costs at about "$1,000,000," while saying they have the resources to proceed. "We wanna do it as fast as we possibly can," the applicant said, while cautioning that demolition, asbestos study and permit timelines can delay construction.
Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on enforcement and monitoring. Freitas said enforcement is generally complaint‑driven, but the proposed conditions include daily sidewalk cleaning before 8 a.m., weekly power washing of the frontage, and cigarette receptacles at entrances; staff warned persistent violations can lead to permit penalties, "including revocation of the permit if it comes to that." Commissioners also discussed security responsibilities, the limits of local land‑use authority versus ABC and police enforcement, and the need for clear expectations on exterior maintenance.
On phasing, staff reminded the commission that the land‑use code allows phased approvals but requires phasing to occur within 24 months; staff recommended giving the applicant the full 24 months with a "good faith effort" standard and director/zoning administrator review if delays occur. Commissioners accepted that approach and left the director with authority to determine compliance if needed.
After discussing noise, maintenance and a suite of modest plaza improvements—most notably exterior lighting and routine cleaning—the commission made a motion to adopt the listed CEQA exemptions and approve the conditional use permit subject to the conditions and the changes recommended at the hearing. The motion carried. The motion text in the record referenced a Section 15.3.0.1 Class 1 CEQA exemption and Section 15.0.6.1(b)(3) "common sense" CEQA exemption.
Next steps: the approval allows the applicant to pursue the Type 48 license with ABC and begin phased work subject to the permit conditions; staff or commissioners may request updates within the 24‑month phasing period.
