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Lubbock council denies variance to allow package store 186 feet from Lubbock High School
Summary
The Lubbock City Council voted unanimously May 27 to deny a variance that would have allowed a package (off-premise) alcohol store at 1905 Nineteenth Street, which staff said is 186 feet from Lubbock High School and therefore within the city's 300-foot separation requirement adopted in February 2009.
The Lubbock City Council on May 27 denied a requested variance to the city's 300-foot separation requirement for package (off-premise) alcohol sales, rejecting a proposal to allow a package store at 1905 Nineteenth Street. City staff said the property is approximately 186 feet from Lubbock High School; the city's separation ordinance has been in effect since February 2009.
Several people spoke during the citizen-comment portion and at the public hearing. Rick Rodriguez, chief operations officer for Lubbock Independent School District, urged the council to preserve the ordinance and prioritize student safety. "The requested location sits across the street from Lubbock High School on Nineteenth Street. The existing ordinance serves as an important purpose in maintaining a safe and responsible environment for our youth," Rodriguez said, adding that allowing a variance could weaken protections designed to minimize underage exposure to alcohol.
Supporters of the applicants, Andy and Swati Shaw, also spoke. Attorney David Martinez said he represented the applicants and vouched for their character and business record: "They are outstanding business people. They have three other package store permits; they've never had any violations with TABC," Martinez told the council. Other supporters, including Ketan Talati and Henry Patel, said the owners were responsible businesspeople with a long history in the community.
Staff member Kristen Sager briefed the council and said the property sits within 300 feet of Lubbock High School and that a prior variance request for 1915 Nineteenth had been denied by council on May 24, 2022. She noted the property is part of a multi-tenant building where each tenant has its own address.
Council debate focused on balancing support for local businesses with protecting the environment immediately around schools. Dr. Wilson, who identified herself as a pediatrician during remarks, said she personally did not believe a store's proximity alone would determine whether teenagers drink but added that she respects existing policy and procedures: "I do not support the ordinance in place as it is, but I do believe in following policy," she said. Other councilmembers said they favored maintaining the 300-foot separation to protect the school environment.
Councilmember Rose moved to approve the variance and Dr. Wilson seconded. After discussion, the motion failed; the transcript records the action as failing unanimously.
The council did not specify a revised policy path at the meeting; some members suggested the city could revisit the ordinance in a broader policy discussion rather than grant an individual variance near a public school.
