Sonoma County Alcohol Ordinance Workshop
New standards for the sale of
alcohol at bars, restaurants, and supermarkets located outside city limits are
being considered by the Sonoma County Planning Commission.
PRMD staff introduced the
standards and zoning ordinance amendments at a recent Commission hearing and
has scheduled a workshop to discuss the changes on Tuesday, November 8th at 2 pm in the PRMD Hearing Room, 2550 Ventura
Avenue, Santa Rosa. Staff from the
Department of Health Services and the Sheriff’s Office participated in drafting
the proposal and will be available at the workshop. The Planning Commission will consider the
matter again at a hearing December 15.
Currently, a conditional use permit
is required for new retail establishments smaller than 10,000 square feet in
size that sell alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption in the commercial
zoning districts of the county. Also,
the K (Visitor Serving Commercial) zoning district currently omits restaurants
that serve alcohol as an allowable use, thus making every K-zoned restaurant
that serves alcohol non-conforming with the current ordinance. The proposed ordinance would correct this
situation.
Initiated by the Board of
Supervisors, the proposals amend the County’s existing Zoning Ordinance to
require a conditional use permit for all new retail establishments, bars, and
restaurants that serve alcohol, and for businesses that expand their floor
space. They also set what are sometimes
called “nuisance abatement” operating standards.
The effort is being undertaken
because research shows a strong correlation between the density of alcohol
outlets and nuisance behavior, crime and violence, health problems, underage
drinking and child abuse, to mention just a few of the findings in the current
literature. In addition, the County’s own data show a range of health and
safety issues associated with outlet density.
The operating standards include
customer and site visitor management; trash, litter, and graffiti management;
staffing, surveillance, and security requirements; requirements for signs and
postings; and compliance with additional local, state, and federal
regulations. These standards also place
limits on the display of beer and wine within the on-premise and off-premise
locations, including arranging displays and signs so that the sales counter,
cash register, and customers can be seen from the outside. The standards set limits on happy hours and on
drinking games at bars and restaurants.
In essence, the proposed approach
allows existing establishments to continue, subject to the standards, without a
conditional use permit. However, if
credible complaints are received, then the establishment can be required to
apply for a use permit, which can either be conditioned to address the
complaints or else denied, effectively terminating the alcohol sales at the
premises. The criteria to evaluate the conditional use permit include the crime
rate in the neighborhood, the number of alcohol licenses per capita in the
area, and the proximity of the alcoholic beverage outlet to sensitive land use
areas including residential districts, day care centers, park and recreation
facilities, schools, and places of religious assembly.
For more information, please
contact Dave Hardy, Project Planner, at 565-1924 or
david.hardy@sonoma-county.org.
