Commission approves brewery special permit and advances amended alcohol-hours referendum to voters; second reading scheduled

High Springs commissioners approved a special-event permit that allows High Springs Brewing limited Sunday operations through the end of the year and voted to place an amended alcohol-hours question before the city's voters, with further formatting and a second reading scheduled to meet the supervisor of elections' deadlines.

Special permit: The commission unanimously approved a special-permit application from the brewery to allow Sunday sales between now and the end of the calendar year. City staff said police and fire had no objections to the temporary permit.

Referendum language and amendments: The city discussed Ordinance 2025-04, which seeks voter approval to amend Chapter 10 (Alcoholic Beverages) of the city code with new hours and to eliminate the 51% food-sales threshold previously used to differentiate on-premises licenses. Commissioners debated a range of proposals and ultimately approved a set of amendments that will appear on the ballot in separate questions: - Off-premises (package) sales: Monday through Saturday hours will remain effectively unchanged (7 a.m. to midnight in the adopted language); Sunday off-premises sales will be limited to 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. under the amendment approved for the ballot. - On-premises consumption: The commission approved identical operating windows for on-premises consumption (Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. to midnight; Sunday 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.), but amended the draft to specify that the change applies to restaurants and breweries that manufacture malt beverages on-site rather than to "all businesses with a beverage license." The change was intended to preserve local distinctions between restaurants/breweries and a stand-alone bar. - A proposed separate section allowing a wholesale elimination of special-permit requirements was removed at the commission's direction.

Procedure and timing: Because the commission made substantive edits to the ordinance text, staff said a formal first reading needed to be followed by second reading and publication to meet ballot deadlines. The commission scheduled first reading and a second-reading special meeting so the ordinance and ballot language could be finalized in time: first reading was set for the commission's July 22 meeting, and a special meeting for final adoption and for transmission to the supervisor of elections was scheduled for July 31 at 6 p.m.

Why it matters: The changes, if approved by voters in the November general election, would alter when local stores, restaurants and breweries can sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays and clarify which types of businesses may open earlier. Supporters argued the change helps local businesses capture tourist and river-visitor sales; opponents warned it could change downtown character and late-night activity.

Taper: The ordinance will appear on the ballot only after the city completes the second reading and the required public-notice steps; if voters approve the changes, the city code will be amended according to the language voters selected.