Beer with your burrito, amigo? Some members of the North Bay Community Planning Group (NBCPG), who got wind of a Camino Del Rio West restaurant’s application for a beer and wine license, are now saying “not so fast.” Cotixan, a Mexican fast-food establishment that is near two exotic dance clubs on one side and a freeway onramp on the other, has raised eyebrows over its plan to serve beer and wine with its tacos and nachos. Some NBCPG board members said during a recent meeting they plan to protest to the state Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) over the application by the restaurant, which sits at the site of a former Jack-in-the-Box. “What’s next? Beer at McDonald’s?” asked NBCPG chairwoman Melanie Nickel during a report at the group’s monthly meeting Sept. 19. The restaurant would be the third to serve alcohol for Cotixan, which has nine drive-through locations — all in San Diego County. The Camino Del Rio West restaurant applied for the license on June 25, according to the ABC website. The group is sanctioned by the city to gather citizen input on development projects and land use-related issues, but its recommendation is not required for the issuance of a liquor license. Board members said granting the license would make Cotixan a magnet for homeless people and problem drinkers, because alcohol is not available at nearby establishments like the Denny’s restaurant and Hampton Inn. “There’s already a lot of panhandling in that area,” said board member Cathy Kenton, who found out about the license application from her mother. Victor Ravago, general manager of Hampton Inn, agreed. “From a security standpoint, we’re constantly having to deal with people loitering after hours,” he said.” Nickel said the availability of alcohol could prove problematic for the strip clubs Les Girls and Body Shop, two nearby properties where alcohol is prohibited. “People could conveniently stroll across the street, get a beer and stroll back,” she said. In other NBCPG news Board members plan to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Tony Lombardi, who has moved to Chula Vista, at their next regular meeting Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. at the San Diego Continuing Education Western Campus, 3249 Fordham St. Anyone interested in applying must be a property owner, resident or business person in the planning area, which is located between Old Town and Point Loma and is largely comprised of two areas: the Midway area and Pacific Highway Corridor. For more information, call (619) 226-2800.
