BevMo Asks Oakland Planning Board to Delay Vote on Piedmont Avenue Store

BevMo officials have asked the Oakland Planning Commission to delay its final vote on an application to open a new liquor store at 3868 Piedmont Ave., according to an article in the Oakland Tribune.

On Sept. 19, the commission voted 4-0 to deny BevMo's application, but scheduled a second vote for Nov. 7 when more of the seven commissioners are expected to be present, the article says. The second vote will now be delayed until at least January, according to the Tribune.

If the planning commission denies the applicationa again, BevMo could appeal that decision to the Oakland City Council.

Neighborhood groups have objected to the proposal for the new store, citing concerns about traffic, air pollution, parking and the impact on Piedmont Avenue's small businesses.

"BevMo is an intensively auto-oriented business, while Piedmont Avenue is zoned to encourage smaller, pedestrian-oriented businesses," Valerie Winemiller said during a protest Sept. 1 at the site of the proposed store. Winemiller is a member of the steering committee of the Piedmont Avenue Neighborhood Improvement League (PANIL), which opposes the store.

Winemiller said the groups aren't opposed to a new BevMo in Oakland, but think Broadway's Auto Row or the Rockridge Shopping Center at Broadway and Pleasant Valley Road would be more suitable locations.

The site formerly housed a Blockbuster Video store.

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