Plans for Pacific Beach rooftop bar stirs controversy with some residents

PACIFIC BEACH The question of whether Pacific Beach has too various bars and alcohol licenses contributing to crime has resurfaced This time the disagreement centers around the Waterbar at Ocean Blvd which started the permitting process to expand and take advantage of more usable space on its rooftop offering ocean views Ocean Blvd On the other side is longtime PB resident Scott Chipman an environmental designer local planner and population activist For years he has fought against the issuance of any more alcohol licenses in the beach neighborhood PB is known historically for its youthful crowds and high alcohol-related crime rates But Waterbar co-owner Todd Brown pointed out that times have changed Young people s tastes have changed He noted they re going out and drinking less and this has created new challenges for PB restaurateurs struggling to survive Although there are several third-story rooftop eateries in La Jolla we are not aware of one that is truly oceanfront disclosed Brown This project would provide Pacific Beach with a very unique opportunity for residents hotels and beachgoers With the tremendous operational cost increases that have occurred since COVID our industry like multiple other small businesses has had a hard time keeping up Labor insurance and overall inflation have made operational margins thinner than ever in the last years Unfortunately going out to dinner is one of the first things to get cut out or scaled back in the budget Brown added Just go to the grocery store and look at the prices and how they have increased in just the last year There are fewer restaurants and bars in Pacific Beach now after numerous closures than I can remember This winter looks to be a very challenging time as well Waterbar and Pacific Beach need more truly special attractions to get on the radar when people decide on a night out Brown mentioned Chipman for his part was unconvinced Why has the Pacific Beach business district made the society the second-highest violent crime area in the city for decades he urged Because a multitude of family-oriented restaurants have become bars and sports bars masquerading as restaurants or operating like a restaurant until dinner time is over then operating as a nightclub for the rest of the night or until a m Chipman pointed out that Waterbar has two bars now and the owners are asking approval for a third bar on the roof A bar by definition is a business that serves alcoholic beverages and sometimes food to the population The ABC license type is a also known as an On-Sale General Eating Place license allowing a restaurant or eating establishment to sell beer wine and distilled spirits for consumption on the premises A key requirement is that the business must operate as a bona fide eating place meaning at least of its gross sales must come from food Chipman mentioned Therein lies the concern he contends There are no forensic audits to determine if food sales are exceeding alcohol sales he announced And with three bars common sense would say this restaurant will not be in compliance This is just the same argument that has been going on for decades Brown reported The people opposing this project are the same people who have opposed anything to do with alcohol and the hospitality industry in Pacific Beach for the last years Brown declared They have inevitably been very good at utilizing local media to make it seem as though they represent a much larger segment of Pacific Beach residents than they authentically do or ever have Instead of trying to work with the hospitality industry to mitigate concerns and encourage responsible alcohol practices they have chosen to attack local businesses How creating an open-air ocean-front eatery with amazing views will bring crime to Pacific Beach is unexplainable and unrealistic Brown declared As people who live in PB at this time own property in PB employ thousands of San Diegans who are good hard-working people invested in the population we take both society feedback and our responsibilities to PB very seriously and look forward to contributing towards the betterment of PB Chipman contends that an oversaturation of alcohol licenses in PB has tainted the area s residents image The people of PB and the city at large now often refer to the bar district of PB he declared Not The restaurants that serve alcoholic drinks with meals district Chipman added There is no bar district nor entertainment district This is a neighborhood business district and the direction businesses have been going is driving away the region and elevating crime levels PB business district crime and alcohol-related problems have grown one decision at a time You have to consider the cumulative impacts of each of these decisions In order not to contribute to the already high alcohol-fueled crime we suggest a condition of no alcohol arrangement upstairs and on-site safety to monitor over-serving and consumption Does Improvement Services or Alcohol Beverage Control see that they have a responsibility to protect populace strength safety and quality of life of the residents in the communities that are over-concentrated with alcohol licenses