Planning Commission Denies Off‑Site Beer and Wine Permit for Imperial Highway Convenience Market

The Inglewood Planning Commission on Feb. 3 denied a special use permit for a convenience market at 3535 West Imperial Highway to sell beer and wine for off‑site consumption. The motion to deny, made during the public hearing on SUP25‑00019, passed after commissioners cited an overconcentration of alcohol outlets in the census tract and said the application did not demonstrate the legally required public convenience or necessity.

Planner Sean May told the commission the site is in the Crenshaw Imperial TOD and noted the planning commission had denied a similar request in April 2024 after finding off‑site alcohol sales would be detrimental, create an undue concentration of outlets and increase crime in Crime Reporting District 35. For the new application, staff said the applicant added conditions including a one‑year sunset review and a remote‑access locked cooler; a PCN (public convenience and necessity) finding was submitted for the commission’s review.

Erica Woods Diaz, representing the applicant, described the operator’s prior 20 years of experience and said the market had improved a long‑vacant storefront and served neighborhood needs. The owner/manager, identified in the record as Ben Masalan, told the commission the store had been empty roughly nine years before the current tenant, that the shopping center is now well‑maintained, and that selling beer and wine would recover customers lost to competitors.

Several neighbors and the property manager spoke in support, saying the center provides convenient access for nearby residents, including elderly and residents without cars. William White said the business provides important neighborhood access and described the operator as a responsible community member. Property owner Farzad Nosraty noted improvements to the site and called it a convenient location for nearby residents.

Commissioner Trejo pressed the applicant for evidence of a public convenience beyond standard convenience‑store offerings and said he had not heard anything to show the store provides services above nearby outlets. Commissioner Shaw Williams, who moved to deny, summarized the commission’s position: the application did not establish the requisite public convenience and the census tract already shows a concentration of off‑site licenses. The motion to deny was seconded and carried (recorded votes: Commissioner Fowler — abstain; Commissioner Rice — aye; Commissioner Trejo — aye; Commissioner Shaw Williams — aye; Chairman Spring — aye). Staff noted the decision may be appealed to the planning division within 20 days under the Inglewood Municipal Code.

The planning commission’s action closes the application for SUP25‑00019 unless an appeal is filed. The commission’s written findings and the staff report will record the conditions and rationale for the denial.