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Yahoo!Opponents of the BevMo! mega liquor store on Upper State Street say they’ll be out in force Monday evening when the City of Santa Barbara Architectural Board of Review (ABR) considers BevMo! plans.
The growing list of opponents to the Beverages & more! wine, beer, and spirits chain’s proposed outlet in the now-vacant, former Thomasville building at 3052 State Street include the PTA at nearby Peabody Charter School, according to San Roque resident Jerry Vigil. Residents are also protesting a liquor license transfer being considered by the California Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) agency. No hearing date has been announced for that, however. Vigil contends that ABC license approval depends on the city’s approval of the project.
Vigil, who’s leading the fight against BevMo!, says the busy retail outlet — which would be located where De la Vina T-bones State Street — would be incompatible with the residential neighborhood, creating constant traffic, including deliveries. Neighbors behind the building, which housed a low-volume high-end furniture store, are objecting to what they see as noise day and night in an area that already has numerous liquor outlets. There is also a question of whether there is sufficient parking. The city is requiring 35 spaces.
But a little over a block away on State Street, the city allowed a Verizon outlet to move in with so little parking that employees fill many spots along adjoining East Calle Crespis, taking up residents’ parking places and causing antagonism. Residents say that, in effect, the city has given Verizon a free parking lot. Residents fear that BevMo! employees will likewise be forced to clog their streets.
On Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Gebhard Hearing Room at 630 Garden Street, the ABR will consider plans to raze the existing separate warehouse and part of the main building to allow for parking. The result will be an 8,999 square-foot building. Four trees will be moved and eight added, if approved.
On the liquor permit track, Leslie Pond, the ABC’s district administrator, says that the licensing issue now goes to the Santa Barbara Police Department to determine whether the additional retail outlet would meet “public convenience and necessity” standards. In other words, are there already too many liquor outlets in the area?
If police give the license transfer thumbs-down, ABC must deny it, according to Pond. However, BevMo! can appeal and a hearing on the issue will be held, Pond said. The reason for referring the matter to the city is because of the existing oversaturation of off-sale liquor stores in the census tract, he said. A longtime liquor store is located down the street, Trader Joe’s is just around the corner, and there are numerous supermarkets nearby. ABC consideration of the BevMo! license is still in its early stages, now that the protest period has ended, Pond said. It has been taking 90 to 100 days to process applications, Pond said.
Comments
Sure, because we need more liquor stores in this area. Maybe all those evil pot heads will convert to using a more all-american drug and only smoke tobacco instead. Where are all you anti-dispensary people? Here we have another purveyor of drugs moving in, and nobody is up at arms.
AZ2SB (anonymous profile)
March 5, 2010 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's because marijuana is SOOOO much safer than alcohol. (extreme sarcasm)
Other than oversaturation, I don't see any reason to deny the permit. There are plenty of alcohol outlets in and around Peabody, so there goes the argument of proximity to a school. If you wanted to live a life of quiet solitude, don't buy a house next to an alley. Like someone has already aptly pointed out, that's like buying a house next to an airport and complaining about the noise.
What I see here is an empty building a company is ready to occupy, staff, and add to an ailing economy (not to mention a city whose coffers become more and more empty as the days go by). Are we in the business of recovery, or suppression?
sbdude (anonymous profile)
March 5, 2010 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OH MY GOD! Where is Carrie Nation when we need her?
JohnLocke (anonymous profile)
March 5, 2010 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What size is the building the so-called "mega" BevMo would occupy? How many employees will the store have? Are there any supporters for the proposal? Barney, don't you live in this neighborhood? Oops, this is On the Beat, a column, and not a news story. Nevermind.
Moonrunner (anonymous profile)
March 5, 2010 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Are you spilling the beans on Barney?
AZ2SB (anonymous profile)
March 5, 2010 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Um, the BevMo is proposed for the old Thomasville furniture building, so anyone with an interest in the size can simply go look at it. It ain't that big folks, but then size, bulk, and scale (which sounds like something Jenny Craig should be concerned about) is a subjective matter of endless discussion in The Peoples' Republic of Santa Barbara.
JohnLocke (anonymous profile)
March 5, 2010 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SBDUDE right on all points!
We need less vacant stores and more tax income for SB. This is an isolated set of residents (and competing liquor stores) who are only thinking of themselves.
BeVo will bring a larger selection of items and more competition.
pn2865 (anonymous profile)
March 6, 2010 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those supporting BevMo should let the ABR know. The city's staff contact for the ABR is
Jaime Limón, Senior Planner
630 Garden St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 564-5507
JLimon@SantaBarbaraCA.gov
pn2865 (anonymous profile)
March 6, 2010 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for the link, pn2865. I'm in favor, and I am writing!
Someone suggested the old Mel Clayton showroom, which indeed is bigger (more sales tax revenue?) and has more parking. I suspect BevMo tried for that one, but it didn't work, for whatever reason (perhaps the city hopes for another car dealership?).
tex805 (anonymous profile)
March 6, 2010 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Mel Clayton showroom would make a nice marijuana dispensary also.
AZ2SB (anonymous profile)
March 6, 2010 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tally-Ho Liquor near-bye would lose money if Bev=Mo gets its way. Wouldn't suprise me if they're payin Virgil a six-pack an hour to make a fuss.
genamethuen (anonymous profile)
March 7, 2010 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Other than oversaturation, I don't see any reason to deny the permit."
-- sbdude
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
SezMe (anonymous profile)
March 8, 2010 at 2:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Didn't that location -- oh so many years ago -- used to be a grocery store? Long before it was a furniture store, it had the traffic one might expect for a liquor store or grocery store.
Whether 35 spaces are too many or too few, the issue of employee parking could be reduced by BevMo giving pre-paid bus passes to employees. It is located on a main route.
maven12 (anonymous profile)
March 8, 2010 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"What I see here is an empty building a company is ready to occupy, staff, and add to an ailing economy (not to mention a city whose coffers become more and more empty as the days go by). Are we in the business of recovery, or suppression?"
Maybe we should allow more marijuana dispensaries then, since they are more popular and will bring in more taxes.... And yes marijuana is way more safer than alcohol.
spacey (anonymous profile)
March 8, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the Mel Clayton showroom is going to be occupied by DCH LEXUS when they finish jumping through all of S.B.s hoops.
right now they r fighting over appearance issues.
karl
surf2di4 (anonymous profile)
March 8, 2010 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is BevMo going to give us more options for fine wines and such? If so, why not. If it's just a typical liquor store, just bigger, never mind.
I have been to the store in other cities, but mainly in passing, knowing what I wanted when I got there, but really haven't taken time.
ahem (anonymous profile)
March 10, 2010 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am in favor of Bevmo coming to Santa Barbara. I happen to live in the area behind the proposed location and I haven't talked with one person in the neighborhood who is against having them come in. The people I have talked to think it would be a positive addition in that it would keep the homeless from living in the alley behind the building, mostly because the building would be occupied and they would police the area themselves and keep it clean. There have been numerous instances where the police have been called, either to deal with an angry homeless person or to stop gang members from causing problems as well. With the building occupied these types of problems will be less often.
Its also interesting to me that the one person leading the fight against Bevmo, I think his name is Jerry, happens to work at Plaza Liquor, which is just a few blocks down the street. Jerry says he is concerned about the children in the vicinity being exposed to alcohol....if this is the case why does he work for Plaza Liquor?
He has no credibility when it comes to protesting against Bevmo. Its obvious he is protecting his own interest and not the children as he put it.
The other important issue that has not been addressed is the fact that most of the store fronts in this area are empty and the ones that are occupied are struggling to stay in business. Having a new business such as Bevmo, would give a much needed boost to the local economy and increase the foot traffic in the area.
So, I am in favor of Bevmo coming to Santa Barbara!
Go Bevmo!!
GoBevmo (anonymous profile)
April 12, 2010 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)