ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) – The Elk Grove City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve an ordinance amendment doubling the amount of conditional use permits allowed in Elk Grove’s Old Town district for breweries, bars, brew pubs and wineries from three to six permits.

 The city has limited the number of new permits issued to alcohol-only establishments in the Old Town Special Planning Area since 2018, allowing only three permits. They are currently being used by Coatza Brewing, Dust Bowl Brewing and Old Town Pub. Bob’s Club operates with city approval, but does not count toward the cap. Other businesses such as restaurants may sell alcohol under different licenses.

 The vote did not approve any specific projects for Old Town, although city staff did say that some entrepreneurs had expressed interest if the city moved forward with the permit expansion plan.

 The city council last discussed the matter in November, but tabled the discussion to gather more feedback from area stakeholders, including residents and the Elk Grove Historic Preservation Committee and the Old Town Foundation.

 The Old Town Foundation said it wasn’t against the amendment, but was concerned about whether the additional three permits would be utilized by establishments that only serve alcohol, as opposed to restaurants that also serve alcoholic drinks.

 Council member Kevin Spease agreed with the Old Town Foundation’s concern, calling it “oversaturation,” but he noted that there were “guardrails” in place in the form of the council's approval process.

 Council member Darren Suen called the increase “modest” and added that the city could always say no to the application if the council had concerns about the project.

 “It’s up to them to prove to us that they are appropriate to the area,” Suen said. “It’s not about the number, but how we influence what we want coming in.”

 The Elk Grove Historic Preservation Committee in December took a more hardline stance against the measure, raising safety concerns and frustration that the establishments were not in line with the committee’s view for Old Town.

 To address public safety concerns, city Planning Manager Antonio Ablog said the Elk Grove Police Department would assign two additional patrol officers to cover the Old Town area during periods of highest activity, especially Friday and Saturday evenings.

 Ablog also said the Police Department would coordinate with the Planning Department to explore new cameras, automatic license plate readers and lighting, in addition to evaluating the feasibility of expanding the drone as a first-response program during operating hours.

"I am definitely in full support,” Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen said. “I appreciate the attention to the safety concerns and the lighting.”