ITEM 11-B

Council Mtg:  March 31, 1992

TO:       Mayor and City Council

FROM:     City Staff

SUBJECT:  Planning  Commission  Recommendation  to  City  Council
          Regarding  the  City's  Position  of  Proposed  Alcohol
          Related Ordinances to  be  Considered  by  Los  Angeles
          County Planning Commission.

INTRODUCTION

This report recommends that the Council authorize staff to send a
letter  on  behalf  of  the  City  supporting the adoption by Los
Angeles County Planning Commission  of  two  proposed  Ordinances
relating  to  the  requirement  of  a  Conditional Use Permit for
off-sale alcohol outlets (Type 20 and 21),  and  on-sale  alcohol
outlets  (excluding  Type  40  and  47).   This item is currently
scheduled to be reviewed by the County  Commission  on  April  2,
1992.

BACKGROUND

At  the  Planning  Commission  meeting   of   March   18,   1992,
Commissioner  Polhemus  suggested  that  the  Planning Commission
recommend that the City Council authorize staff to issue a letter
of  support  for the two proposed ordinances.  The suggestion was
endorsed by the Planning Commission.

The Los Angeles County Planning Commission  will  be  considering
two separate ordinances on the subject of requiring a Conditional
Use Permit for alcohol sales.  One ordinance would require a  CUP
for all off-sale alcohol licenses (Type 20 and 21) throughout the
County.   The  County  currently  has  four  "Community  Standard
Districts" where a CUP is required for off-sale alcohol licenses.
Adoption of the proposed ordinance would require a CUP  for  such
outlets on a County-wide basis.

The other ordinance  which  will  be  considered  by  the  County
Planning  Commission  would require approval of a Conditional Use
Permit for all on-sale alcohol outlets, except for  Type  41  and
47.   This would apply to on-sale establishments such as bars and
nightclubs, but would exclude restaurants with beer and wine,  as
well as restaurants with full alcohol.  This ordinance would also
apply on a County-wide basis.

The Planning Commission has recommended  that  the  City  Council
authorize  staff  to  issue  a  letter  to the Los Angeles County
Planning  Commission  in  support  of  the  concept  of  using  a
Conditional  Use  Permit  to  assist in regulating alcohol sales.
These changes to the County code will make their procedures  more
consistent  with those of the City of Santa Monica which requires
a CUP for off-sale  alcohol  licenses  and  bars  and  nightclubs
serving  alcohol.   In order for City endorsement of the proposed
ordinances to reach the County by April 2, 1992, immediate action
is required.

BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT

The recommendation presented in this report  does  not  have  any
budget or fiscal impact.

RECOMMENDATION

It is respectfully recommended that the Council direct  staff  to
issue  a  letter to the Los Angeles County Planning Commission in
support of the two proposed ordinances.

Prepared by:  D. Kenyon Webster, Planning Manager
              David Martin, Associate Planner
              Planning Division
              Land Use and Transportation Management Department