REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Jennifer Villasenor, Director of Community Development
PREPARED BY: Marco Cuevas Jr., Associate Planner
Subject:
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Appeal of the Planning Commission’s Action on Conditional Use Permit No. 25-027 (Distractions Lounge)
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Statement of Issue:
Transmitted for the City Council’s consideration is the appeal filed by Councilman Williams on April 22, 2026, of the Planning Commission’s action on Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No. 25-027, a request to permit the onsite sales, service, and consumption of alcohol (ABC Type 48 License - Full Alcohol) within an approximately 1,250 sq. ft. eating and drinking establishment. The Planning Commission approved the request on April 14, 2026.
Financial Impact:
Not Applicable
Planning Commision Action:
recommendation
A) Find the proposed project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301, Class 1.
B) Approve Conditional Use Permit No. 25-027 with suggested findings and conditions of approval (Attachment No. 1).
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Alternative Action(s):
The City Council may take one of the following alternative actions:
A) Do not make the suggested findings, which will result in a mandatory denial per Section 241.10 (C) of the Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance (HBZSO); or
B) Continue Conditional Use Permit No. 25-027 and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
A. PROJECT PROPOSAL:
Applicant: Peter Blied
Location: 16612 Beach Boulevard, Suite C, 92647 (East side of Beach Boulevard and South of Heil Avenue).
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No. 25-027: to permit the onsite sales, service, and consumption of alcohol (ABC Type 48 License - Full Alcohol) within an approximately 1,250 sq. ft. eating and drinking establishment.
B. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND RECOMMENDATION:
On April 14, 2026, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the project. During the meeting the Commissioners discussed the use, proximity to sensitive uses, and number of calls for police service. During this meeting, Keith Farrow, Assistant Superintendent for the Ocean View School District, spoke in opposition to this request citing concerns with potential negative safety impacts to students and adjacent residents. Prior to this meeting, a comment letter was received by the Ocean View School District citing the same concerns (Attachment 11). A motion was made by Commissioner Thienes and seconded by Commissioner Babineau to find the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301, Class 1, and approve Conditional Use Permit No. 25-027 with suggested findings and modified conditions of approval, by the following vote:
Ayes: Clifford, Thienes, Babineau, Palmer
Noes: Bush, McGee
Absent: Goldberg
Motion Approved
C. APPEAL:
On April 22, 2026, Councilman Williams appealed the project citing that the approval will be detrimental to the welfare of residents within the vicinity, particularly the children of Westmont Elementary School that walk past the establishment on their way to and from school, which is located within 600 feet of the drinking establishment.
D. STAFF ANALYSIS:
The April 14, 2026, Planning Commission staff report (Attachment No. 5) provides a detailed description, analysis, and history of the proposed project including information related to the appeal. Additional information is summarized below.
The business currently has a Type 42 license to serve beer and wine. An upgrade to a Type 48 license requires approval of a CUP in the Beach and Edinger Corridors Specific Plan (BECSP). The upgrade will allow the business to sell and serve distilled spirits in addition to beer and wine.
Police Department input is important when considering CUP requests for alcohol. Their recommended conditions of approval are incorporated in Attachment No. 1 to address potential impacts of the proposed use. The Police Department service calls summary and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) report are also provided in Attachment No. 12. The proposed request complies with the applicable provisions in the Town Center Boulevard Segment of the BECSP, other applicable provisions in Titles 20-25 of the Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance (HBZSO), and the General Plan. As conditioned, the CUP is not anticipated to generate significant impacts to surrounding uses. In addition, the City Council may approve Conditional Use Permit No. 25-027 because the request complies with the General Plan and zoning ordinance and is compatible with the surrounding commercial uses.
Environmental Status:
The project will not have any significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines because the project involves negligible or no expansion of the existing use and structure.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. Suggested Findings and Conditions of Approval
2. Plans received and dated December 2, 2025
3. Appeal letter received and dated April 22, 2026
4. Planning Commission Notice of Action dated April 15, 2026
5. Planning Commission Staff Report of April 14, 2026
6. Planning Commission Minutes of April 14, 2026
7. Code Requirements
8. Vicinity Map
9. Narrative
10. PowerPoint Presentation
11. Public Comments
12. Police Department & ABC Reports