Council introduces ordinance to restrict small-format off-sale alcohol near US-101 ramps
December 11, 2025 | Camarillo, Ventura County, California
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The Camarillo City Council on Dec. 10 introduced an ordinance amending several municipal-code chapters to curb concentrations of small-format retail off-sale alcohol businesses near US-101 interchanges.
Planning staff described background research and the city's temporary moratorium on off-sale alcohol permits. The proposed amendment would prohibit Type 20/21 off-sale alcohol uses in tenant spaces under 7,500 square feet located within a quarter-mile of US-101 ramps in the CPD (Commercial Planned Development) zone. Staff said the change responds to an observed concentration of small-format alcohol retailers near freeway ramps and would limit future approvals in those locations.
Staff also noted the proposal would create nonconforming-use protections for existing businesses: a conditional-use permit (CUP) would remain tied to a property and, if a legally operating business were to cease operations, the CUP would remain available for up to 365 days for a landlord to find a replacement operator. Staff said the amendment would also limit the portion of a business devoted to alcohol sales to no more than 49% of a store’s floor area when redesign or reconstruction occurs and would strengthen enforcement tools for repeated ABC violations or ongoing property-maintenance problems.
Planning staff recommended the council find the ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and to introduce the ordinance for further proceedings; the council approved introduction and the recommended findings by unanimous vote. Planning staff said the measure is intended to "strengthen public safety" and reduce community impacts associated with concentrated off-sale alcohol uses.
The council set the ordinance for subsequent proceedings consistent with the normal zoning-adoption process.
Planning staff described background research and the city's temporary moratorium on off-sale alcohol permits. The proposed amendment would prohibit Type 20/21 off-sale alcohol uses in tenant spaces under 7,500 square feet located within a quarter-mile of US-101 ramps in the CPD (Commercial Planned Development) zone. Staff said the change responds to an observed concentration of small-format alcohol retailers near freeway ramps and would limit future approvals in those locations.
Staff also noted the proposal would create nonconforming-use protections for existing businesses: a conditional-use permit (CUP) would remain tied to a property and, if a legally operating business were to cease operations, the CUP would remain available for up to 365 days for a landlord to find a replacement operator. Staff said the amendment would also limit the portion of a business devoted to alcohol sales to no more than 49% of a store’s floor area when redesign or reconstruction occurs and would strengthen enforcement tools for repeated ABC violations or ongoing property-maintenance problems.
Planning staff recommended the council find the ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and to introduce the ordinance for further proceedings; the council approved introduction and the recommended findings by unanimous vote. Planning staff said the measure is intended to "strengthen public safety" and reduce community impacts associated with concentrated off-sale alcohol uses.
The council set the ordinance for subsequent proceedings consistent with the normal zoning-adoption process.
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