Board approves zone change and conditional use permit to allow off-sale alcohol at Lake Elsinore gas station

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved, by a 4-0 vote on May 5, a change of zone and a conditional use permit to allow a Type 21 off-sale alcoholic-beverage license — for off-sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits — within an existing convenience store and gas station near Central Avenue in the Lake Elsinore area.

John Hildebrand, planning director, presented the item and said the parcel currently has a manufacturing-service-commercial (MSC) zoning classification and a commercial-retail general plan land use. He told the board the convenience-store/gas station combination was previously approved under plot plan 21016 and that the request adds alcohol sales as an additional permitted use. "They’re going for a Type 21 alcoholic beverage control license, which is for the off sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits," Hildebrand said.

Staff reported that a mitigated negative declaration had been adopted for the previously approved plot plan and that no new environmental impacts were expected from adding the ancillary use. The project was noticed in the Press-Enterprise and mailers were sent to residents within a 1,000-foot radius; staff reported no community opposition during the planning commission hearing, where the commission recommended approval by a 4-0 vote.

After questions from board members about local context, the board opened and then closed the public hearing with no speakers and approved the staff recommendation to adopt the addendum, approve change of zone number 240053 and issue the conditional use permit for alcoholic beverage sales.

The board did not detail conditions beyond the standard requirements or identify a protest letter or appeal filed at the meeting. Implementation will follow normal county planning and ABC licensing procedures.