DeRozani's seeks on‑premise alcohol sales for downtown restaurant; church proximity will require separate variance

Planning staff recommended approval of a detailed site plan to allow on‑premise sale of alcoholic beverages at DeRozani's, 105 South Main Street, but told commissioners a separate variance will be required because staff discovered a church within 300 feet of the restaurant by door‑to‑door measurement.

Gina Costanza Grant, senior planner, described the site and said the restaurant has operated for years and is now seeking a detailed site plan to add on‑premise alcohol sales. "After staff review, we recommend approval," Grant said.

Staff noted the city’s 300‑foot door‑to‑door distance from protected uses (schools, churches, residences) for certain alcohol‑license processing and said a church had recently been issued a certificate of occupancy about 250 feet from DeRozani's by staff’s door‑to‑door measurement. Grant said the applicant is aware the alcohol distance exception will require a separate variance that goes directly to City Council and not through Planning & Zoning; the applicant preferred to have the zoning case decided first and then seek the distance variance separately.

Staff reported one letter in support and one in opposition in the file. Commissioners asked whether nearby event centers or restaurants already held licenses; staff said other nearby businesses had licenses but that historical licensing timelines vary. The Planning and Zoning Commission will forward the zoning/site plan recommendation and the applicant will later present the distance variance to City Council for consideration of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) distance requirement exception.