Aug. 29--Target Corp. has appealed a Ventura city commission's decision blocking the company from selling beer and wine at its new store in Pacific View Mall.

Last week, the city Planning Commission rejected Target's application because it didn't like the idea of having alcohol in a mall frequented by teenagers and across the street from a middle school.

In a three-page appeal submitted to the city Wednesday, the Minnesota-based company said the Aug. 19 unanimous vote on the grounds that alcohol sales were incompatible with the mall and neighborhood was "erroneous."

The company wants the City Council to overturn the decision and approve a permit for it to sell packaged beer and wine at its two-story, 220,000-square-foot store off Mills Road that opened in March.

No other store in the mall sells packaged alcohol, although beer and wine are sold inside restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen and Red Robin. The other Target store in Ventura does not sell alcohol, but some in other cities, such as Camarillo and Moorpark, sell beer or wine in their grocery store sections.

The city planning staff had recommended the company's proposal be approved, saying the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption is allowed under city zoning rules, and police didn't think it would be a problem at the mall or increase crime in the area.

The appeal, which cost $906 to file, likely won't go to the City Council until October, Ventura City Clerk Mabi Plisky said.

Target spokeswoman Brandy Doyle said the new store has an expanded grocery section, and adding beer and wine is part of an effort to provide convenient one-stop shopping. Target cashiers receive training to prevent alcohol sales to minors, she said.

Ventura has more businesses licensed to sell alcohol than any other city in the county -- 109 active licenses for off-site sales and 259 licenses for on-site sales, according to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

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