A resident with ties to the family of Beltramo's Wine and Spirits is trying to stop BevMo from setting up shop in Menlo Park; and her case will likely go to the City Council in late October.
Last week, Maureen Hogan appealed an Aug. 23 planning commission decision granting Beverages & More, Inc. a use permit for a store at 700 El Camino Real. The Commission briefly discussed the appeal yesterday evening, but could not take any action on the topic because appeals are a matter for the council.
With 11 alcohol retailers already in Menlo Park – a town of 30,000 – why invite another one, Hogan asked in an interview.
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"I think the economics for the city don't make sense," Hogan said. "And I don't think the findings for a use permit could be met. I don't want another place in Menlo Park that sells alcohol."
She said her friendship with Diane Beltramo Hewitt, however, did not influence her decision to fight the BevMo project. Hogan said she and Hewitt both have children in Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton.
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"She was not involved -- I did this completely independently," Hogan said.
Jeff Sealy, BevMo's Vice President for Real Estate and Construction, could be not be reached for comment.
Hogan took issue with the commission's two findings that were basis for approving the project. The commission agreed the project would serve a "public convenience or necessity" and that a BevMo at the proposed site would not be detrimental or hazardous to the welfare of residents and the city in general.
In her appeal letter to the city, Hogan also wrote that the chain store would be detrimental to other wine and spirit retailers in Menlo Park.
