Temecula Planning Commission Questions Booze And Painting Concept

During Wednesday night’s regularly scheduled Temecula Planning Commission meeting, all the agenda items focused on business owners interested in offering alcohol to their patrons.

But one proposal stood out.

Businesswoman Nicole Mosier has filed an application with the city to open Canvas and Cabernet in the Rancho Temecula Town Center at 39628 Winchester Road.

The business concept includes offering painting classes to paying 21-and-older patrons who can also enjoy beer or wine while they create.

The proposal prompted several questions from the commissioners, who worried the art studio could become a bar. Their concerns were compounded by California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) findings that show the proposed location for Canvas and Cabernet to be an area that’s “over-concentrated” with establishments selling alcohol.

Commission Chairman John Telesio pushed to get pricing from Mosier. She said painting classes would cost $36 each and include a canvas to keep as well as use of paintbrushes on site. People who walk in would also be allowed to paint without a lesson, and they too would get a canvas and use of paintbrushes for $25.

The pricing eased Telesio’s concerns, who said if someone wanted to get “hammered” they would probably go to a bar rather than spend the upfront $25-$36.

But commissioner Ron Guerriero was not comfortable with the idea.

“We’re going to give more alcohol to people in that center. I’m really concerned about a precedent being established in Temecula. We have a plethora [of establishments that offer alcohol] in town,” he said.

Patrick Richardson, development services director for the city, clarified that no new bars have been allowed to open outside of the Old Town area since the city incorporated in 1989. Restaurants that serve beer, wine and distilled spirits have been OK’d outside of the area, but businesses that don’t offer meals have not.

According to Mosier’s application, Canvas and Cabernet would offer light pre-packaged snacks but no meal service.

If Canvas and Cabernet finally opens, the 1,800-square-foot art studio/beer and wine service would be a first in the city. Wednesday night neither staff nor commissioners could think of another establishment like it in Temecula. That prompted a concern by commissioner Carl Carey who thought the concept could pave the way for any other business to submit an application to do the same.

“They could all do this,” Carey said.

“Yes,” answered Richardson, but he stressed that any applicant would first need the city’s sign-off on a conditional use permit.

Ultimately, the commissioners voted 3-1 to approve the project, with Guerriero being the dissenter and Commission Vice Chairman Stanley Harter absent.

The other agenda items before the commissioners were all approved Wednesday with 4-0 votes, including a minor conditional use permit application from Jill Nelson to open Blackbird Tavern at 41958-41964 5th Street in Old Town. The restaurant would sell beer and wine in the location formerly housed by Grandadz Hot Dogs. The 18,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor eatery would serve soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and an assortment of dinner plates. There would be no live entertainment, according to city documents.

Also approved Wednesday night was a minor conditional use permit application from Louis Kashmere to open Garage Brewing Company & Pizzeria at his existing facility located at 29095 Front Street in Old Town (formerly Express Tire). The 4,633-square-foot location would be transformed into a pizzeria and brewpub with a tasting room.

Lastly, the commissioners approved a minor conditional use permit to allow Spuntino’s Pizzeria and Delicatessen to begin selling distilled spirits. The restaurant currently sells beer and wine at the location. The approval prompted some concern from three local residents who live near the restaurant located at 31891 Rancho California Road in the Meadows Village Shopping Center. The residents said noise is already a problem in the center situated just 35 feet from some backyards, and they worried drunkeness could compound the issue.