CHURCH FIGHTS NEARBY LIQUOR SALES.

Byline: Jeannette DeSantis Daily News Staff Writer

A public hearing will be held this week to appeal a Los Angeles City Board of Zoning decision to allow a local restaurant to serve alcohol across the street from a Catholic Church and elementary school.

The appeal, filed by St. Catherine of Siena Parish and School, will be heard Tuesday in the Board of Zoning Appeals hearing room in downtown Los Angeles.

The church appealed a liquor license granted to the Pacific Grill restaurant in the 18100 block of Sherman Way largely because the eatery is directly across the street from the church and alcohol would be sold during school hours.

The Rev. Sean Flanagan said the permit allowed alcohol sales to start as early as 6 a.m.

Restaurant owner Allen Shaw, the longtime owner of the now-defunct Corbin Bowl, said he empathizes with the church and has offered a compromise.

"I agreed that I wouldn't sell before 10 a.m.," Shaw said. "That should satisfy them."

But Flanagan said parents at the school want to ensure that no liquor will be sold when their children are picked up from school, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

"The school parents would feel more confident if this was written into the law," said Flanagan.