Malibu Sheriff’s liaison says she doesn’t see any problems posed by another establishment selling alcohol.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor
A family with more than 50 years in the jewelry business might have gotten more than it bargained for last September when it took its first dabble in the real estate business by purchasing the gas station property on Pacific Coast Highway just south of Rambla Pacifico. La Costa and Carbon Beach residents are up in arms about the family’s attempt to build a Circle K convenience store on the property, which will include the selling of wine and beer.
“I think our concern is that it’s something that is going to promote vagrancy,” said Mark Thompson, a Channel 11 weatherman who lives in the condominium directly behind the gas station. “These places where alcohol is sold do unfortunately attract and maintain the type of people that are attracted to that kind of environment.”
Thompson’s name is listed in an advertisement in this week’s issue of The Malibu Times calling for people to attend Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting, where the agenda includes the application for a conditional-use permit to sell alcohol and a coastal development permit to construct the Circle K. A petition has also been circulated that has been signed by at least 60 people. And that petition has been posted at the Country Liquor Store, located across the highway from the proposed Circle K.
Mehran Sarraf, who purchased the gas station property with his brother and father, said the residents are unnecessarily frightened.
“Their objection implies that we are going to allow people to sit there and drink,” Sarraf said. “But that’s against the law. We’re not going to allow loitering. We plan to have a very nice and upscale place.”
The Encino resident, whose family has two jewelry store locations in downtown Los Angeles and also sells items via the Internet, said he was attracted to the property because he thought it was a good opportunity, and that the land could “be taken care of, and brought to Malibu standards.”
The plan is to keep the eight-pump Spirit gas station on the property. The car repair shop, which takes up most of the 1,600-square-foot building on the property, will be converted, along with the existing small food and drink shop, into a full-size Circle K. Landscaping on the property will also be increased from 298 square feet to 2,327 square feet and parking spaces will be added to total 11, not counting the eight spaces at the gas pumps. Sarraf also said there would be marble floors and granite counter tops.
None of the nearby residents had a problem with the expansion of the convenience store, but their objection was exclusively about the sale of beer and wine daily until midnight.
“It’s right on the doorsteps, within several feet of people’s homes,” said Barry Glaser, who also lives in the condominium behind the gas station. Glaser’s wife, The Malibu Times entertainment reporter Kim Devore, was one of the originators of the petition.
But, so far, city and law enforcement officials are not siding with the neighbors. The planning staff has recommended the Planning Commission approve the project, including the ability to sell alcohol. The selling of alcohol also received an official nod of approval from Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Lt. Debra Glafkides, who is also the Sheriff’s Malibu liaison. Her signing off on the project was included in the staff report, which was released last week. Also included was an e-mail exchange between Glafkides and City Planner Stephanie Danner.
“Given that Duke’s Restaurant is adjacent to the location, and serves alcohol, the addition of a nearby location selling alcohol ‘to go’ until midnight may present an additional temptation to continue drinking in, or around, the beach area,” Glafkides wrote. “On the other hand, snacks and coffee ‘to go’ will also be available along with a place to purchase milk, etc. for residents nearby in the late evening hours. From a law enforcement perspective, the concerns are minimal and do not rise to a level to sufficiently outweigh the benefits of a local convenience store.”
Glafkides clarified this week that she understands residents might be concerned about the project from a “quality of life” perspective, but said she is asked only to decide if the selling of alcohol would affect law enforcement.
“We try our best to look at the community as a whole, to look at the other stores and to see if they affect law enforcement,” Glafkides said. “I can’t really see an impact… you’ve already got establishments nearby selling alcohol… we don’t see that many problems from there. However, we’ll keep an eye on it and make sure.”
Thompson called Glafkides’ conclusion “discouragingly short-sighted.”
“It disappoints me,” he said. “I’m sure that’s a considered opinion, but by the same token it seems almost self-evident that a business selling alcohol produces a completely different environment. I see it in other beach communities. It absolutely changes the rhythm and quality of the neighborhood.”
The five-member Planning Commission will vote on it Tuesday. An approval by the commission can be appealed to the City Council, with possible further appeals to the Coastal Commission.