A bill making its way through the state Legislature would grant local governments the right to retroactively apply zoning ordinances to existing liquor stores. . .

     Senate Bill 148, currently before the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, aims to crack down on nuisance businesses where littering and public drinking are a problem, said Arwen Chenery, legislative director for state Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena.
    Chenery said the objective of the bill is to set a single standard for similar businesses.
    “We’re trying to even the playing field,” she said.
    Under the bill, Chenery said, long-existing liquor stores would be required to fulfill the same zoning requirements as a new business, including applying for conditional use permits.
    Scott said problems have arisen from liquor stores that have been “grandfathered” into existence — that is, stores that have been established prior to current zoning, changing ownership over the years and now operating free from restrictive zoning that apply to their more recently established competition.
    “This is not an attack on liquor stores,” Scott said Thursday, “but where they do represent a problem, cities don’t (currently) have power.”
    If Scott’s bill passes, cities would have the option of adopting it nor not.
    Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth said it sounds like a good idea.
    “Any bill that gives more local (governmental) control is beneficial,” he said. “We have to balance that with businesses’ right to operate.”

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