Planning commission approves Encinitas Brewing Company with bike‑rack condition, citing parking study and indoor operations

The Encinitas Planning Commission on Feb. 18 approved permits allowing Encinitas Brewing Company to occupy 1588 Locadia Boulevard, converting the former Islands Restaurant into a full‑service restaurant with an ancillary brewery and craft distillery. The commission approved a major use permit modification, design review and coastal development permit and added a condition asking the applicant to install at least three bike racks (space for up to six bikes); the motion passed 5‑0.

Planner Raffi presented the project and described the scope: façade improvements, increased outdoor dining from 517 to 1,565 square feet (two patios), interior seating of 106, and outdoor seating of 72 and 16 in the two patios, respectively. Operational hours were listed as 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The project seeks ABC type 23 (small beer manufacturer) and type 74 (craft distiller) licenses so on‑site production and on‑ and off‑sale of products manufactured on the premises would be permitted. Raffi also told commissioners the project is exempt from CEQA under §15301(e) for negligible expansion of an existing use.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about parking, active‑transportation accommodations and operations. The staff‑commissioned parking study used the Encinitas Ranch specific plan ratio (1 space per 200 sq ft) and considered the entire shopping center’s existing and proposed uses; while the center’s original approval required more spaces, the study concluded the center’s 610 existing spaces would accommodate the proposed change and that peak measured demand is low. "The study concluded that there is a 44% demand of the existing parking supply based on data taken at peak hours," Raffi said.

Commissioners pressed the applicant and staff to ensure bicycle parking was adequate and to confirm that brewery storage and manufacturing would occur inside the building. Brian McBride, a partner in Encinitas Brewing Company, said the business is "a restaurant first" and that brewing is an ancillary element. "We're a restaurant first ... as an ancillary part of that, we have an amazing brewer," McBride said, explaining the partners’ local ties and that all grain storage and brew operations will be contained indoors.

Commissioners proposed and ultimately added a condition asking the applicant to provide three bike racks with space to accommodate up to six bicycles; the motion to approve the permits with that suggestion passed 5‑0. Commissioners also asked staff to work with the applicant during building permit review to finalize bike‑rack locations and to ensure patio gates and pedestrian clearances meet code and safety standards.

No public speakers opposed the project; one resident spoke in support, recounting local brewing history and welcoming the use. The project may proceed to building permits and final ABC licensing steps required by the state.