Denham Springs council backs short ordinance change to clarify alcohol-distance rule after extended debate over 'church' definition

The Denham Springs City Council on Jan. 27 voted to ask staff to draft a narrow change to Section 10-102 of the city code to mirror state language about buildings "used exclusively as a church," after more than an hour of discussion about how the current ordinance affects businesses that also host religious activity.

Council members debated whether the city should keep a higher local standard that bars alcohol-serving businesses from locating within 300 feet of a church or instead adopt the state formulation that measures distance to a building "used exclusively as a church." Proponents said the change would resolve an immediate licensing dispute involving a business called the Mustard Seed Creamery; opponents warned it could have wider effects on other alcohol and land-use rules.

The issue first surfaced when a city staff member said the creamery — a business that serves ice cream and wine and whose operators have an affiliated 501(c)(3) — was denied a license renewal after a newspaper article described the affiliated group as a church. Councilmembers and staff recounted that the business originally applied as a restaurant and told city licensing staff it would not be hosting church services at the premises; that representation was the basis for an initial provisional permit.

Councilmember Gilbert moved, and Councilmember Poole seconded, a resolution authorizing staff to change the ordinance text so Section 10-102 uses the state phrasing "building used exclusively as a church, synagogue, public library, school, or full-time daycare center" and to return the drafted ordinance for introduction and public hearing. The motion passed on a recorded vote (Dugas: yes; Gilbert: yes; Lynn Williams: yes; Poole: yes; Wesley: yes).

During the discussion, speakers raised several practical concerns: whether the measurement should be from property line or entrance, how the city enforces sales percentages that distinguish restaurants from bars, and whether formal definitions of "church" would create unintended consequences for small churches that occasionally host other activities. City staff said the change could be drafted in time for the next meeting; any ordinance would still require a public hearing and a subsequent vote.

Councilmembers also noted the change would not alter other licensing requirements such as kitchen standards or the food-to-alcohol sales ratios that determine whether an establishment qualifies as a restaurant. Several councilmembers urged broader review of related ordinance sections and said they would research how nearby municipalities handle similar language.

The council’s action directs staff to prepare the single-sentence amendment to Section 10-102 to mirror the cited state language, advertise the change, and return it to the council for formal introduction and a public hearing.

The council framed the vote as a drafting authorization rather than a final policy decision; the ordinance will come back for public input and a formal vote before taking effect.