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PL25-0092 (Special Conditional Use Permit)
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LOCATION MAP
PROJECT NO.: PL25-0092 (Special Conditional Use Permit)
APPLICANT: Northgate Gonzalez, LLC
REQUEST: A request to establish two Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) licenses consisting of a Type 21 (Off-Sale General) for off-site consumption of beer, wine and distilled spirits and a Type 86 (Educational Tasting License) for on-site beer, wine and distilled spirit tastings in conjunction with Northgate Market (formerly Clark’s Nutrition & Natural Foods Market) in the Commercial Neighborhood (CN) zoning district.
LOCATION: 12835 Mountain Avenue (APN: 1015-501-24)
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. PC2025-025, approving PL25-0092 (Special Conditional Use Permit), based upon the findings and subject to the departmental conditions of approval.
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SURROUNDING ZONING AND LAND USE:
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Existing Land Use |
General Plan |
Zoning District |
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Project Site - |
Commercial Retail |
Neighborhood Commercial (NC) |
Commercial Neighborhood (CN) |
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North - |
Single Family Residential |
Residential 4.5 dwelling units/acre (RD 4.5) |
Residential 4.5 dwelling units/acre (RD 4.5) |
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East - |
Single Family Residential |
Residential 4.5 dwelling units/acre (RD 4.5) |
Residential 4.5 dwelling units/acre (RD 4.5) |
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South - |
Multi-Family Residential |
Residential 20 dwelling units/acre (RD 20) |
Residential 20 dwelling units/acre (RD 20) |
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West - |
Agricultural |
Office Commercial (OC) and Residential 4.5 dwelling units/acre (RD 4.5) |
Commercial Office (CO) and Residential 4.5 dwelling units/acre (RD 4.5) |
BACKGROUND
The applicant, Northgate Gonzalez, LLC is requesting approval of a Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) to allow the sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits for off-site consumption and educational tasting of beer, wine and distilled spirits at Northgate Market located at 12835 Mountain Avenue. Northgate Market is a family-owned supermarket chain with over 34 locations in Southern California. The store provides a full-service grocery operation, including produce, meats, dairy, deli, frozen foods, prepared foods, and bakery items, and specializes on culturally relevant products and services to serve the Hispanic/Latino community.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
The applicant is requesting approval of two ABC licenses, a Type 21 (Off-Sale General) to allow Northgate Market to sale beer, wine, and distilled spirits for off-site consumption and a Type 86 (Educational Tasting License) to allow on-premise alcohol tastings. Prior to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) issuing either license, the applicant must obtain approval of a SCUP from the City.
Under the Type 86 license, tasting events are conducted by a supplier or representative for the purpose of educating customers on various beer, wine and spirits products sold in the store. Alcohol samples are limited to the following quantities per customer, per event:
• Beer/wine: 1-ounce taste per product, limited to 3 samples
• Distilled Spirits: ¼-ounce taste, limited to 3 samples
Tasting areas are temporarily roped off within the retail floor area, and minors are prohibited from entering the designated tasting area during an event.
The Chino Police Department reviewed the application and determined that the granting of a SCUP will not cause a significant impact on public safety as conditioned. The Police Department has no concerns with the request, as conditioned.
Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN)
Under California’s Business and Professions Code §23958.4, when a census tract contains an undue concentration of off-sale licenses, the local governing body must determine that issuance of the license would serve the Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN) before ABC may issue the license. The project site is located within Census Tract 17.03, which is allowed 3 off-sale licenses. Currently, 8 off-sale licenses exist within this tract, not including the applicant’s request. Since the census tract exceeds the number of allowed off-sale licenses, a finding of PCN is required for the proposed Type 21 license. In the City of Chino, the Planning Commission is the decision making body responsible for determining PCN. ABC will not issue the Type 21 license unless the Commission makes this finding. The required PCN findings of support have been included in the attached resolution of approval should the Planning Commission elect to exercise its discretion and adopt the same. PCN findings are not required for a Type 86 ABC license.
Public Noticing
A 10-day notice was mailed to all property owners within a 300-foot radius of the project site. In addition, a notice was published in the Chino Champion on November 8, 2025, and the City sent information out on the City’s social media platforms. In response to the public notice, no comments have been received. The notice exceeds legal noticing requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Guideline § 15301 - Existing Facilities, the project qualifies as being categorically exempt from CEQA and will have no significant impact on the environment. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to the categorical exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines 15300.2, apply to this project.