Alcohol License Denied Near Bible College

A permit to sell beer and wine at a Murrieta gas station was denied Wednesday.

Several residents turned out to a public hearing at City Hall to oppose the permit, which was sought by the new owners of Dakota Mart, a Unocal 76 station turned BP Arco at 39460 Murrieta Hot Springs Road.

Owners Shanti Dewan and Tajinder Singh recently purchased the convenience store with the goal of converting it to an ampm franchise, which requires the sale of beer and wine. Alcohol has not been permitted at the location in the past.

City planner Aaron Rintamaki said the project complied with development code requirements, including limitations on alcohol advertisements and its location within the store. He recommended approving the permit on the basis of public convenience and necessity.

But a majority of those who spoke at the hearing, including neighboring Calvary Chapel Bible College, said it would attract unwanted public nuisance.

Joel Wingo, registrar at the bible college, said there are 500 students, many of whom are under 18, who frequent the convenience store because it is located across the street.

"We feel this would be a nuisance. It is not a necessity," Wingo said. "We are also concerned about changing the peaceful atmosphere that our campus is set in."

Wingo said the bible college, which doubles as a conference center, brings in 500-800 people on weekends.

"They'll be shopping at this place as they already are," Wingo said.

An initial hearing regarding the permit was held Oct. 20, but was continued once to allow the owners to hold a community meeting. The hearing was held again Nov. 17, but continued to Wednesday after the owners had a scheduling conflict.

Resident Ruzanna Banjarjiar said she attended all the meetings, and was "100 percent against" the permit.

"I have a 23-year-old daughter who is lying in bed on life support because of a drunk driver. We moved here from Riverside to get away from this," Banjarjiar said.

"We have enough facilities that sell alcohol. Between Alta Murrieta and Margarita there are six places that sell alcohol," she said.

"He knew that place didn't have an alcohol license when he bought it."

Twelve-year Murrieta resident Alonzo Gomez was worried about the safety of the many children he said frequent the area on their bicycles. They might get hit by a drunk driver pulling out of the station, he said.

"We don't want our first responders coming over there and having to mop up a mess," Gomez said.

One person spoke in favor of the permit.

"...Trying to draw the correlation between drunk driving and this location is not factual," said Michael Brewer, a Temecula resident who owns a business in Murrieta.

"This application is for beer and wine only...the community of Murrieta has outstanding enforcement and I doubt any students of the bible college are going to buy alcohol."

But after hearing public comments and weighing all the factors, Community Development Director Mary Lanier went against city planners' recommendation for approval. Lanier said she was not convinced the sale of beer and wine at the store would not create a public health and safety nuisance.

"This is a very difficult decision because historically at this location there has been opposition to alcohol sales," Lanier said. "It is also important to listen to the community."

In addition to the eight residents who spoke against it at the hearing, a petition opposing the permit was also turned into City Hall.

The sales coupled with alcohol sales at another location--Fresh And Easy--within the nearby shopping center would combine to create a nuisance, Lanier said.

"This project is not complementary or harmonious to this location," she said.

"Our City Council did hold a series of hearings as did our Planning Commission [to update the city's alcohol code]. They did also approve more alcohol sales to occur."

The city of Murrieta did away with alcohol sales distance requirements from residences when it in an attempt to become more business friendly. It kept a 600-foot distance requirement from schools, churches and parks, however.

While the bible college is across the intersection, it is unclear whether it is within 600 feet of the store, or whether that factored into Lanier's decision.

Barry Singh, who identified himself as the manager of the gas station, said they plan to appeal the decision before the Planning Commission.

Ed Rodrigues, another resident who opposes the permit, said he thought as much.

"I know it is going to get appealed," Rodrigues said. "I see this as halfway through the fight."