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Richmond’s Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on January 15, 2026, on a proposal to allow beer and wine sales at a Chevron gas station food mart on Hilltop Mall Road, following months of community opposition and an earlier hearing that resulted in the project being deferred.
The proposal seeks a conditional use permit to allow off-sale beer and wine retail sales at the Chevron Food Mart located at 2900 Hilltop Mall Road. The site is zoned CM-5 Commercial Mixed Use within the city’s Activity Center District.
Planning staff has issued a tentative recommendation for conditional approval. The Planning Commission has not yet taken final action.
A public hearing on the proposal was previously held on August 21, 2025. During that hearing, numerous community members raised concerns about the proximity of the gas station to nearby schools and the potential for an increase in crime and loitering if alcohol sales are approved.
On the Richmond Burrito Trail: Hilltop Mall’s El Burrito Loco
Nestled inside a gas station taqueria on Hilltop Mall’s Ring Road, El Burrito Loco delivered a culinary surprise: tender carnitas and a generous helping of guacamole that lent each bite a creamy embrace. The Chevron Burrito defied expectations with every bite. The Super Carnitas Burrito assembly invited reflection — each
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According to a report provided to the city by the Richmond Police Department, loitering is an ongoing issue at the nearest approved alcohol retailer, located at 15531 San Pablo Avenue. City records show the Chevron site is approximately 900 feet from the nearest school property, which includes two schools: Summit Tamalpais Public School, serving grades 7-12, and Aspire Richmond Academy, serving grades 6-12.
While the site meets city distance requirements from schools, community members expressed concern about the number of students who patronize nearby stores during the proposed hours of alcohol sales. Following the August 21 hearing, the Planning Commission deferred the project and directed the applicant to conduct additional outreach and address neighborhood concerns.
Written opposition continued after that hearing.
In October, Arto Rinteela, president of the Fairmede Hilltop Neighborhood Council and the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council, wrote that he was “deeply disturbed by the way the Planning Commission disregarded community opinion.”
“My neighborhood is right next door to Chevron (Food Mart), and we were never notified,” Rinteela wrote. “Our neighbors would never approve alcohol sales profits over community safety, and that is exactly what is happening here.”
In the same letter, Rinteela criticized commissioners’ familiarity with the area, writing, “I was surprised that most of the Planning Commission members didn't even know how to get to Hilltop.”
A written comment submitted by the president of the Hilltop District Neighborhood Council Bhavin Khatri said opposition to the permit remained unchanged following earlier discussions.
“Nothing has changed since our last meeting; we do not support this permit as it would undoubtedly create a nuisance in our area,” Khatri said. “It's clear that the city is going to force this on us, however I'd like to be pleasantly surprised by the planning commission.”
April Roy, a representative of the Hilltop Village Homeowners Association, also raised concerns about the applicant’s proposed security plan and a suggestion that customers carrying backpacks be required to leave them in a designated area while shopping.
“To add this would be a frustrating disservice to our community,” Roy wrote, citing concerns about “theft and personal safety of one's belongings.”
Roy also questioned whether the applicant’s decision not to hire private security was appropriate, given earlier discussions.
“During the meeting, the applicant stated they would provide added security,” Roy said. “In the attached set of concessions they are stating this would not be cost effective. Is that OK for you, given our limited number of police?”
City planning staff has said the conditions under consideration include limits on alcohol sales hours and restrictions on certain high-alcohol products. The Planning Commission may approve the permit with conditions, deny it, or continue the item for further review. Any final decision would be subject to appeal under city procedures.
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