Mayor, city council defers decision on expanding drinking establishments in Old Town Elk Grove

During their November 13 meeting, Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her city council deferred their decision on expanding the number of drinking establishments in Old Town Elk Grove. The mayor and city council considered doubling the number of conditional use permits in the Old Town Special Planning area from three to six.

The decision came after the city council heard a presentation from planning manager Antonio Abalog and public comment. 

One speaker was Peggy Forseth-Andrew, an Elk Grove Historic Preservation Committee member who noted she was not speaking on behalf of the committee. Nonetheless, Ms. Forseth-Andrew expressed dismay that the committee did not review the proposed doubling of the conditional use permits. 

Forseth-Andrew told the mayor and city council that the Special Planning Area was created to protect the district's historic qualities.  She noted the committee had no advance notice of the proposed expansion of drinking establishments. 

"What I am here to ask you to do is to please wait on making a decision," she said. "To not bring this before the Historic Preservation Committee for their review and their comments, in my opinion, is disrespectful to the committee."

Forseth-Andrew also noted that the preservation committee has previously reviewed any changes or modifications to the SPA. As posted on the city's website, the committee has had four hearings about proposed Old Town design changes in the last 17 months.  

Also speaking during public comment was resident Lynn Wheat, who noted that the Old Town Special Planning area update had been delayed for several years. Ms. Wheat suggested the city is devising an under-the-radar plan for the district, noting that in June 2023, Singh-Allen said Elk Grove could become an entertainment district on par with San Diego's famed Gaslamp Quarter. 

"I'm thinking there is something else going on, that we have the Old Town secret planning area," Wheat said. "And the reason I think that, is because of the last couple of years a number of properties have been sold in that area and we still have no SPA that's been released to the public."

After hearing the comments, Wheat's assertions were not addressed, but Forseth-Andrew's were. Development Service Manager Christopher Jordan said the planning department has not historically put land use matters before the preservation committee.  

During their deliberations, the city council said before they expanded the drinking establishments, they would like the police department's involvement after receiving numerous complaints about patrons from Old Town's Babe's Lounge. During a recent Planning Commission meeting, there were public comments about drunken behavior by patrons of Babe's Lounge. 

The matter will be heard at one of the two January 2025 city council meetings. The mayor and city council also directed city staff to have the matter heard by the preservation committee before it is returned to the city council for final consideration.  

The video below is queued to the comments from Wheat and Forseth-Andrew.