From Bill Lindelof:
A new south Sacramento Wal-Mart will be allowed to sell liquor, despite its location in a high-crime area already populated by an abundance of stores that trade in booze.
Approval was unanimously granted by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors after the store agreed to several concessions. Approval of the application was initially opposed by Sheriff John McGinness, who sent a letter in May to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control strongly protesting any possible permission for Wal-Mart to sell distilled spirits, beer and wine.
A county report states that there is an "over-concentrated" number of liquor licenses in the area, and the sheriff noted that there were 217 reports taken from February to May this year within the mile radius of the new store at 6051 Florin Road.
Of those reports, 26 were "crimes against persons-weapons" and nine were alcohol- or narcotics-related. However, the sheriff's department removed its objection when Wal-Mart made certain pledges to limit sales.
"They have agreed to two major concessions," said sheriff's department spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran.
The store, which closes at midnight, agreed that sales of liquor will end at 10 p.m. and the store will not sell individual beers from packs. The store also agreed not to sell refrigerated alcoholic beverages.
In September, the application to sell booze found opposition and support from members of the South Sacramento Community Planning Advisory Council, which recommended approval in a 3-2 vote. Some council members said too many retail alcohol outlets already exist in the area.
Others said they viewed alcohol sales at a supermarket such as Wal-Mart to be different than booze sold at a convenience market, the county report states.
County staff recommended approval, saying alcohol sales is a small part of Wal-Mart's overall sales.
The new Wal-Mart store in June replaced an older, smaller store in the Southgate Shopping Plaza. The closed store did not have an active liquor license, the county said.
County approval was required by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board before a liquor license could be issued.
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