Bars, drinking establishments to double in Old Town-Historic Downtown Elk Grove

During the recent meeting of the Elk Grove City Council, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and three of her city councilmen directed city staff to modify the Old Town Special Planning Area to allow for more drinking establishments. When the change is adopted, it will ultimately double the number of drinking establishments in the fledgling entertainment district.

Under the current SPA regulations, adopted in 2005, bars, breweries, and nightclub-type establishments were not allowed. In 2018, the city allowed conditional use permits (CUP) to be issued for breweries, wineries, nightclubs, and bars.

While the additional uses were allowed in 2018, the city council limited the number of permits that could be issued. There was a limit of three CUPs, all of which have been used.

"We do not have the ability to issue any more CUPs for bars, breweries, wineries or the like," planning manager Antonio Ablog told the city council.

Ablog said several businesses would like to open in Old Town but cannot because there are no additional CUPs. The staff recommended adding three more CUPs for a total of six, but not removing the limits.

When Councilmember Kevin Spease asked how the number of additional CUPs was determined, Ablog noted that expanding the number of CUPs was consistent with plans to transform the area and that six was determined to be the appropriate limit at this time. On several occasions, Mayor Singh-Allen said the special planning area has the potential to become similar to San Diego's famed nightlife district, the Gaslamp Quarter (see video below).

"The city is looking for Old Town to be more of an entertainment district," Ablog added.

The city council voted 4 - 0  (Councilmember Darren Suen was absent) to have an amendment to the SPA presented at a future meeting for adoption. During their deliberations, the city council implied there are already applicants interested in obtaining the permits.