TITLE
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending Table 41-1C of Chapter 21.41, and Section 21.45.114 (2), (5) and (8), all relating to alcoholic beverage manufacturing and accessory tasting rooms, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On April 7, 2015, the City Council adopted Ordinance ORD-15-0010 (ABM Ordinance) allowing small-scale alcoholic beverage manufacturing facilities and accessory tasting rooms to operate in commercial zones within the City. These facilities allow for brewing beer, winemaking, or the distilling of spirits. Previously, these types of uses were limited to zones permitting manufacturing uses, with no method to permit accessory tasting rooms.
Customers may consume products produced on-site in the accessory tasting room and may purchase products for off-site consumption. Typical forms of purchases for off-site consumption are growler fills or individual bottles. Growlers are containers of a standard size (typically 64 ounces) that a customer purchases from the ABM and uses for refills.
The ABM regulations are detailed in Title 21, Section 21.45.114, of the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) and include provisions such as a required 500-foot buffer around schools, hours of operation, floor area limitations, and parking requirements.
Since the adoption of the ABM Ordinance 18 months ago, a variety of restaurants with breweries have opened within the City. However, only two ABM establishments have qualified under the ABM development standards. On August 23, 2016, the City Council directed staff and the Planning Commission to review the provisions of the ABM Ordinance, and return within 90 days with opportunities for additional flexibility in the development standards for these facilities.
Staff reviewed the ABM regulations, studied inquiries from prospective breweries, reviewed the regulations for similar establishments in other cities, and compared the Ordinance to other alcohol-related standards in the City. Staff al...
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