ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Elk Grove City Council requested input from the Historic Preservation Committee on the question of increasing the cap on liquor permits in Old Town Elk Grove.

City Council delayed a decision on the proposal at its Nov. 13 regular meeting after hearing a committee member’s concerns on the lack of consultation. Councilmembers also wanted more detail on how the city will handle public safety. 

The Old Town Special Planning Area currently allows three conditional-use permits for liquor-based businesses such as bars, breweries and tasting rooms. Noting that the area has reached this limit, city staff proposed increasing the cap to six. Any businesses that apply would need final approval from the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal in October and recommended approval.

Planning Manager Antonio Ablog described concerns raised during the planning meeting. He noted that some public speakers said additional permits would exacerbate noise and disorderly conduct in the area, which the speakers attributed to existing businesses. Ablog said code enforcement staff is reviewing the operations of existing businesses.

During public comment, Elk Grove resident Lynn Wheat said the city has not been transparent about its plans for the planning area.

Peggy Forseth-Andrew, a Historic Preservation Committee member, came forward to speak in a personal capacity. She urged City Council to allow her committee to review the change.

Forseth-Andrew previously voiced her concerns when the Planning Commission considered the proposal. At that time, Ablog said, city staff did not consider land-use questions, such as liquor permitting, to be within the scope of Historic Preservation Committee.

“You cannot separate out buildings from the district itself and that’s basically what we’re being asked to do,” Forseth-Andrew told City Council. She asked City Council to think of the committee as “gatekeepers” for Old Town.

The councilmembers discussed the Historic Preservation Committee’s role and emphasized the importance of public safety.

Councilmember Darren Suen said the city’s efforts to revitalize Old Town are “proving successful” and he supported raising the liquor permit cap. However, he said that it is appropriate to have the Historic Preservation Committee first consider the proposal.

Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen wanted assurances that the city will ensure alcohol-serving businesses follow the law.

“These bars and breweries obviously are for adults; however, there are restaurants that are nearby as well. We want to attract the family businesses,” Singh-Allen said. “We want to make sure that the patrons and those that work in these different businesses feel safe.”

Vice-Mayor Rod Brewer agreed with Singh-Allen’s and Suen’s points. He focused on public safety.

“From a safety standpoint, we definitely want to make sure that when people come here, they want to feel like they’re coming in safe, they’re going to go home safe,” Brewer said, adding that the city should stay ahead of the issue.

Enforcement of the existing permits was the major concern for Councilmember Kevin Spease. 

He supported sending the permit cap question to the Historic Preservation Committee.

Development Services Director Christopher Jordan explained how city staff views the Historic Preservation Committee’s jurisdiction.

“Staff’s historic interpretation of this has been that details of the plan dealing with architecture, building design, the composition of the built form, that those are absolutely within that purview because of the definition (and) that regulation of use is not necessarily (something) that fits in,” Jordan said. “Given the feedback we’re hearing tonight, that may be an oversimplification of our approach and we can reset our expectations around that.” 

City Council voted to delay its decision so that the Historic Preservation Committee could review the proposal and so that staff could work with the police on a public-safety presentation. 

The Historic Preservation Committee’s next regular meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9. The item is scheduled to return to City Council on Feb. 12.

Singh-Allen proposed a “reimagination” of the Elk Grove Arts Commission’s scope to include the creative economy. She also wanted to reopen applications for the commission to “create an opportunity for some new voices.”

A rebrand to the “Arts and Creative Economy Commission” would broaden the board’s purview, Singh-Allen said.

“A lot of cities have grown from sort of an old-school arts commission to incorporating the creative economy, which then opens up opportunities for economic development as part of that,” Singh-Allen said.

Spease compared the idea to The Arts Advocacy Project founded by Elk Grove resident Judy Tafoya. 

City Council reached consensus to hear a staff presentation on the proposed rebrand. Regardless of its decision on that point, the new application period is likely to occur.

The Nov. 27 regular City Council meeting has been canceled.