The Lansing City Council on Aug. 11 approved by consent the Riverwalk Theater’s application for a state club liquor license and ancillary permits, including a Sunday sales permit, outdoor service area and a dance‑entertainment permit. The item was included on the consent agenda and passed unanimously.

Leanne Zimney, board member and treasurer of Community Circle Players (the nonprofit that operates Riverwalk Theater), addressed the council in support. “We’re here tonight to ask council for its approval of our request to be able to sell alcohol to our patrons under a state club license,” Zimney said, adding the theater is volunteer driven and operates adjacent to Impression 5 Museum on Museum Drive.

Public comment included both support and concern. Nicholas Zandy, president of the Old Everett Neighborhood Association, said he understood the theater’s desire but raised neighborhood concerns about an already high concentration of licenses on the East Side and potential nuisance problems. Zandy said, in part, “there are 20 liquor licenses issued on the East Side alone…there's plenty of liquor licenses out there.”

Council approved the liquor license and permit requests as part of a larger consent motion moved by Vice President Carter that also included appointments and noise permits. The liquor control process requires final registration with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and compliance with any local conditions spelled out in the council action and in state law.