MORE LIMITS ON ALCOHOL SALE BACKED PANEL'S ENDORSEMENT NOW CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Planning commissioners endorsed tighter alcohol-sales rules that keep liquor stores, bars and convenience stores at least 1,000 feet apart and give the city more power to crack down on alcohol retailers that cause nuisances.

After public hearings that started in October but were delayed by commission vacancies, planners voted 5-0 Thursday night to toughen the city's 11-year-old alcohol-sales ordinance and sent its recommendation on to the City Council for approval.

``It will reduce alcohol-related problems significantly because of its comprehensive nature and its inclusive nature,'' said Ray Chavira, an alcohol-control activist and former Los Angeles County Commission on Alcoholism member, who pushed for toughening the Palmdale law.

The City Council is likely to begin its own consideration of the revised alcohol-sales ordinance in May or June, Planning Director Lauri Lile said.

The proposed new restrictions would require a special permit for new supermarkets, restaurants and other businesses that sell alcohol, which city officials said will let them crack down on businesses that cause trouble or whose patrons do.

The Greater Antelope Valley Association of Realtors endorsed the proposed new rules. Palmdale Chamber of Commerce representatives said they were concerned that new regulations could hurt businesses and property owners without solving any alcohol problems, but say the present proposal is not unduly restrictive.

As passed by the commission, the new rules would keep bars, liquor stores and convenience markets or gas stations that sell alcohol at least 1,000 feet apart, double the present minimum separation.

They would have to be at least 500 feet from homes, up from the present 300.

Liquor stores, convenience markets and gas stations selling alcohol would also have to be at least 1,000 feet from schools and day-care centers, also double the present distance, and at least 1,000 feet from hospitals, such as the one proposed near Palmdale Boulevard and 10th Street West.

No minimum distances would be imposed among supermarkets, drug stores and restaurants that sell alcohol, though new ones will be required to get permits setting hours of operation and other conditions.

The proposed changes would also tighten the city's controls over restaurants that on evenings or weekends become nightclubs, allowing them to be treated like bars.

Also required would be training for employees who sell alcohol, aimed at deterring sales to minors or to intoxicated people or other problems.