Business & Tech

Albany Taproom Seeks Later Hours – Petition Turned In

The Albany Planning & Zoning Commission on Wednesday considers an application from the Albany Taproom to stay open until 1 a.m. seven nights a week and to have live music with moderate amplification until 11 p.m.

The 7-month-old Albany Taproom on San Pablo Avenue wants to extend its operating hours to 1 a.m. seven nights a week and be allowed to have live music with "moderate" amplification.

The application for a Conditional Use Permit for the extended hours and music goes before the Albany Planning & Zoning Commission Wednesday night, Oct. 9. It was filed Aug. 19 by Saed Tolui and Keyumars Hakim.    

The beer pub and adjoining Grazzy Burgers restaurant, which are connected by an interior opening in their mutual wall, currently are required to close at 10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Live music is not performed.

A city staff report prepared for the planning commission meeting recommends approval of the application.

"Due to popularity of the business, the applicant has indicated that the additional hours of operation will allow them to serve more customers on a daily basis," the staff report says. "The applicant has submitted a petition containing 375 signatures of patrons in support of the proposed operating hours."

The planning commission agenda packet includes two petitions in support of the application: one that contains names and signatures and one that lists names and email addresses, and a few comments, from an online petition. A quick count by Patch found 319 names on the former and 104 names on the latter.

The packet also includes three emails from individuals: a resident who lives half a block away objecting to the application, a landlord of rental units a block and half away objecting to the application and a resident who lives two and a half blocks away supporting the application. Albany Taproom and Grazzy Burgers are located at 745-747 San Pablo Ave.

The music would performed next to the bar, in the middle of the business, and would cease by 11 p.m., according to the staff report.

"The noise level would not exceed that of the current amplification system which broadcasts music and television within the business space," the staff report says. "Entertainment would include local musicians playing acoustic music including Bluegrass, Gypsy Jazz and singer/songwriters. It is expected that music would be offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays, though the applicant would like the option to offer entertainment other days of the week. When offered, live entertainment would cease by 11pm." 

The staff report noted that the two businesses filled previously empty commercial space and have not generated any police activity since they've been in operation. The report concluded that no adverse impacts would be expected from the later hours and live music.

The Planning & Zoning Commission meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall and its agenda also includes two high-profile issues: the Housing Element of the General Plan, over which the city was sued last week, and revised plans for the UC Berkeley proposal for  a Sprouts Farmers Market, senior housing and two retail buildings next to University Village.

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