On Tuesday, the Oakley Planning Commission approved a liquor license for the La Colmena Market which will soon open in the City of Oakley.
The item was continued from the May 19, 2026 Planning Commission meeting which requested staff to research potential effects of the sale of distilled spirits to a supermarket/grocery store would cause on the senior residents of the apartment complex – including complex circulation, loitering and noise.
Back in October 2019, the city approved the Twin Oaks Senior Project with mixed-use noting the commercial portion of the build was required to make the project possible.
According to city staff, the La Colmena Market is a family-oriented supermarket giving residents a one-stop shopping – such as grocery shopping, full-service meat department, fresh bakery, restaurant, dessert bar and produce selections.
A representative of the the applicant, said the store floor will have 7 aisles, and they anticipate maybe 5% of sales will be beer, but the reason they want the license is to be able to compete with other stores – customers would go to a single location somewhere else.
Meanwhile, Sandy Bothwick, a resident at the complex, said she and residents who live there are not in favor of a liquor license.
“People can go to Lucky’s,” said Bothwick while alleging the traffic pattern being shared is “backwards”. She also called it a “perfect storm” and there may be accidents and parking will be an issue. She continued by expressing concerns with both loitering and noise. She urged the commission not to approve the license.
The planning commission acknowledged there is other issues with the complex, but it was beyond the CUP before them. The item was then approved in a 3-0 vote.
La Colmena Market – CUP to sell Distilled Spirits
Not being able to make a decision at its May 19 meeting, the planning commission will take up a Conditional Use Permit ( Type 21 License ) request for Main Street Liquor to sell distilled spirits at La Colmena market.
According to the staff report, the Commission expressed interest in strengthening the Conditions of approval to better manage the use. Additionally, the Commission requested information on potential effects of the addition of the sale of distilled spirits to a supermarket/grocery store would cause on the senior residents of the apartment complex.
The La Colmena market is located within the Twin Oaks Senior Residence Mixed-Use project on Main St – a 130 affordable senior apartments and a 5,600 sq ft commercial space.
At the May 19 meeting, the commission requested staff evaluate the potential effects of the sales of liquor may have on senior residents – instead, staff added conditions of approval to strengthen operations:
- Security + employees involved in alcohol sales will be 21+.
- Management will be present
- High-definition surveillance system
Traffic & Circulation: The addition of a small display area with liquor/distilled spirits within a permitted supermarket/grocery market would not alter circulation throughout the project site, the project site currently has two gates for the use of the senior residents to utilize
additional parking on the sides and rear of the building. Patrons of the supermarket/grocery store would not have access to the additional parking and would only have access to parking in front of the building.
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