The discussion seemed to turn pesky as the discussion turned toward "friendly" motions - requiring BevMo to lock up the little single-serving bottles (presumably to avoid shoplifting by underage miscreants), and to avoid selling caffeinated alcholoic beverages.

Wisely, the BevMo representative approached the dias to ask that BevMo be held to the same standard as othre retail/liquor stores. BevMo agreed and the council agreed.

Mr. Robinson failed to add that he paid sales tax, in addition to the $.99 for his little biddy bottle.

Sanity prevailed and Beltramos screwed themselves with their underhanded attempt to undo the decision of the planning commission. Myslef and others will never do business with them again because of it.

What is the justification for Kelly Fergusson and Hayward Robinson voting against the decision by their own Planning Commission and against the recommendation of their own staff?

It's a rhetorical question.

Whoever thinks Hogan and Beltramos were in this together is dead wrong. I've known Maureen Hogan for over a decade. She's a true woman of character and she was neither influenced, nor did she even CONSIDER Beltramos' interests in her appeal. This was about property values, no need for further alcohol sales in MP and the PC's failure to consider the proper standard of review. Beltramos may too have opposed Bev Mo for its own business sake, and perhaps Hogan beat them to the appeal process, but to mouth off that Beltramos was complicit with Hogan does disservice to any private citizen who chooses to assert their rights.

To Janet Medlin's post - agreed, that whether Maureen Hogan happens to be a close neighbhor, friend, or has some other relation to Beltramo's is not the point.

And her passion for this issue is to be recognized. In the end, it appeared that the council members that voted against the appeal, did this with reasoned concern for the process.

Imagine our city if we continue to fight big book stores or other retail outlets. We'd wind up with an empty Chili's, or if you can imagine, the day when we wind up with empty Ford, Lincoln, Cadillac, GM lots. Bad business practice is bad for property values too. As a homeowner, that concerns me too. A lot.

I understand the need to maintain property values as well as maintain small town charm of a smaller city. But it seems to me that a thoroughfare such as El Camino is a little different because it has no small town charm. If someone doesn't find a larger store on El Camino in their town, they'll go to the closest one and if that's not in their town, the revenue goes somewhere else.

There do seem to already be plenty of liquor stores in MP. I'll shop at BevMo because: it's close enough and in SM County, I don't want to deal w/the traffic & lines at Safeway, there's good selection and decent prices and I'm not thrilled w/Beltramo's. K&L & Trader Joe's still still get me business, too.

One thing easily overlooked when people are being their town-centric is that others living locally will also patronize businesses in your town, so perhaps that is something to keep in mind.

Councilman Robinson's request for an amendment to the BevMo approval, that liquor miniatures not be readily available at checkout counters, was reasonable.
However, hopefully Robinson will check all the other liquor retailers in town and make sure that they are not making the miniatures readily available. That would be very unfair singling out only BevMo for that rule.
A bit odd that even though Robinson's amendment was approved he still voted in favor of the appeal to keep BevMo out. Oh well he's out come January.
Thank goodness three of the five council members followed the rules on deciding the appeal.

Booze miniatures are totally available at other stores including ones that sell groceries also. (Not naming names-let Robinson go check them all for himself.) Targeting that is a different issue than targeting BevMo per se. Ridiculous to link one with the other!

I wonder if this approval will cause NIMBYs to more aggressively reload and hunt down other potential business proposals.

Scholar states:"Not naming names-let Robinson go check them all for himself.)"

The chances of Robinson actually doing anything on this are ZERO.

[Posts removed: off topic.]

[Post removed; please stay on topic; this thread is spiraling rapidly away from the issue.]

I am happy that BevMo has been approved. It would have been foolish to vote against it.

Fergusson and Hayward are on their way out so it figures that they voted "no."

The majority of the City council got it right last night and didn't cave to the undue influence of the Beltramo clan. Ms. Hogan may have been acting in a civic-minded vein, but the Beltramo's used undue pressure and financial interest.
In contrast to them, the Morey family was classy and made their case in a forthright manner. How lucky for Menlo Park that they prevailed. Their Menlo Station is the perfect site for BevMo.
Even Ms. Fergussen stated that, when she took a stand against their setting up shop on Santa Cruz Avenue, she encouraged them to find an appropriate sit on El Camino. You were on the right track then, Kelly!

Fergusson on her way out.... what make you think so. She is certainly out of touch with the community with her stand on Measure L and she is extremely politically ambitious.

The whole BevMo issue was ridiculous --- they certainly deserve to be in town, in fact they should have been allowed on Santa Cruz.

I hope Fergusson is not the next mayor. Since she got a job, she just doesn't have the time and is certainly not on top of items.

Let's get back on topic -- I think we're supposed to be discussing the BevMo issue.

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I applaud the City Council and their decision to approve the Bevmo. They stayed within their guidelines as allowed by law and followed the lead of the planning commission. The system does work! Bevmo will be a great retail tenant for our city and despite the efforts by the Beltramos' and Draegers' families, they have prevailed.

As for the Beltramos, I too will not shop there again. After seeing their sign up sheet filled with self serving (and inaccurate) reasons to oppose the Bevmo, it is clear that they feel they own the town and shouldn't have to compete for our business. Their actions were shameful, smack of self interest and certainly not in the best interests of our community consumers. Now it is time to let them compete....

Bevmo should be on the ECR. Beltramos has seen the last of me also.