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El Cajon eases up on bars to bring nightlife to downtown
Looking over shoulder at La Mesa, North Park, Escondido
"Let's look at downtown La Mesa or North Park."
It's been decades since El Cajon banished new bars from its downtown — now it wants to bring them back.
Faced with a night life that's been nodding off for years, the city is eyeing a zoning change to lure more residents, and those passing through from places like Alpine — people always on their way to somewhere else — to their own city core around Main and Magnolia Streets.
"We lost Creative Creature," a popular brewpub that has moved to San Marcos.
"You drive downtown after dark and it's like the sidewalks have rolled up," said city council member Michelle Metschel at a meeting last week.
"We lost Creative Creature," she said of a popular brewpub on North Magnolia Ave. that lost its lease in March after six thriving years, and has since moved to San Marcos.
"We can't bring anything new in as long as we say no alcohol." The city, she said, should consider making the downtown an entertainment district.
"I don't just want it to be 50 Main Taps on one side of the road."
A new state bill, SB 969, would allow cities and counties to designate entertainment zones where bars and restaurants could serve alcohol to those age 21 and over that could be consumed on public streets and sidewalks.
In previous years, El Cajon has passed tough laws that limit or revoke alcohol sale privileges if a business sells to a minor or a drunk customer. It was an overconcentration of bars that led to the restrictions the city now wants to relax by amending its downtown master plan.
After years of "rising criminal activity," the city council in 1995 required all new bars be at least 1,000 feet from an existing bar, and/or 600 feet from residences, schools, healthcare and religious facilities, parks, playgrounds, and off-sale alcoholic beverage establishments (except restaurants where the bar was smaller than the dining area). The proposed amendment would reverse the distance requirements.
Escondido street festival. City manager Graham Mitchell points to downtown Escondido as a good model,
Later zoning edits eased up on some venues, allowing hotels and live entertainment businesses to sell alcohol as a secondary use. Microbreweries, where beer is made onsite, have been allowed citywide since 2015 in the commercial zones with a conditional use permit. And bars that operate within a full-service restaurant are also allowed without distance standards.
But bars and pubs dedicated entirely to alcohol sales are subject to the distance requirements, making it impossible for new ones to locate downtown. Currently, there are only two: Main Tap Tavern and La Fiesta Night Club – both on the 500 block of West Main Street.
"I think we can offer up a nightlife" that's attractive, said councilmember Phil Ortiz, "but I don't just want it to be 50 Main Taps on one side of the road."
There should be a range of nightlife-oriented venues, he suggested, whether its restaurants, karaoke, tasting rooms or bars. "Let's look at downtown La Mesa or North Park and say what's the ratio of bars to all other establishments?"
Pointing to downtown Escondido as a good model, city manager Graham Mitchell said that in a four block zone there are four bars and one block over, two more. It doesn't feel over concentrated, he said, but it's a mix of types, from biker bars to lounges and microbreweries.
The first step will be identifying the project area, he said.
City staff will next bring a proposed amendment to the Downtown Specific Plan allowing stand-alone bars to the planning commission — which will then make recommendations for the city council.
Mayor Bill Wells liked the idea since each new bar would require a conditional use permit. "I wouldn't want to do this if we couldn't keep control because I remember 25 years ago, and things were pretty rough in downtown El Cajon. I don't want to go back to that."
Here's something you might be interested in.
El Cajon eases up on bars to bring nightlife to downtown
Looking over shoulder at La Mesa, North Park, Escondido
El Cajon eases up on bars to bring nightlife to downtown
Looking over shoulder at La Mesa, North Park, Escondido
"Let's look at downtown La Mesa or North Park."
It's been decades since El Cajon banished new bars from its downtown — now it wants to bring them back.
Faced with a night life that's been nodding off for years, the city is eyeing a zoning change to lure more residents, and those passing through from places like Alpine — people always on their way to somewhere else — to their own city core around Main and Magnolia Streets.
"We lost Creative Creature," a popular brewpub that has moved to San Marcos.
"You drive downtown after dark and it's like the sidewalks have rolled up," said city council member Michelle Metschel at a meeting last week.
"We lost Creative Creature," she said of a popular brewpub on North Magnolia Ave. that lost its lease in March after six thriving years, and has since moved to San Marcos.
"We can't bring anything new in as long as we say no alcohol." The city, she said, should consider making the downtown an entertainment district.
"I don't just want it to be 50 Main Taps on one side of the road."
A new state bill, SB 969, would allow cities and counties to designate entertainment zones where bars and restaurants could serve alcohol to those age 21 and over that could be consumed on public streets and sidewalks.
In previous years, El Cajon has passed tough laws that limit or revoke alcohol sale privileges if a business sells to a minor or a drunk customer. It was an overconcentration of bars that led to the restrictions the city now wants to relax by amending its downtown master plan.
After years of "rising criminal activity," the city council in 1995 required all new bars be at least 1,000 feet from an existing bar, and/or 600 feet from residences, schools, healthcare and religious facilities, parks, playgrounds, and off-sale alcoholic beverage establishments (except restaurants where the bar was smaller than the dining area). The proposed amendment would reverse the distance requirements.
Escondido street festival. City manager Graham Mitchell points to downtown Escondido as a good model,
Later zoning edits eased up on some venues, allowing hotels and live entertainment businesses to sell alcohol as a secondary use. Microbreweries, where beer is made onsite, have been allowed citywide since 2015 in the commercial zones with a conditional use permit. And bars that operate within a full-service restaurant are also allowed without distance standards.
But bars and pubs dedicated entirely to alcohol sales are subject to the distance requirements, making it impossible for new ones to locate downtown. Currently, there are only two: Main Tap Tavern and La Fiesta Night Club – both on the 500 block of West Main Street.
"I think we can offer up a nightlife" that's attractive, said councilmember Phil Ortiz, "but I don't just want it to be 50 Main Taps on one side of the road."
There should be a range of nightlife-oriented venues, he suggested, whether its restaurants, karaoke, tasting rooms or bars. "Let's look at downtown La Mesa or North Park and say what's the ratio of bars to all other establishments?"
Pointing to downtown Escondido as a good model, city manager Graham Mitchell said that in a four block zone there are four bars and one block over, two more. It doesn't feel over concentrated, he said, but it's a mix of types, from biker bars to lounges and microbreweries.
The first step will be identifying the project area, he said.
City staff will next bring a proposed amendment to the Downtown Specific Plan allowing stand-alone bars to the planning commission — which will then make recommendations for the city council.
Mayor Bill Wells liked the idea since each new bar would require a conditional use permit. "I wouldn't want to do this if we couldn't keep control because I remember 25 years ago, and things were pretty rough in downtown El Cajon. I don't want to go back to that."
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