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Council approves several alcohol-related zoning changes; defers one bar's special-use designation after compliance concerns
Summary
The Midland City Council adopted ordinances allowing on-premises alcohol sales at multiple properties and approved a rezoning to permit wine sales, while deferring action for two weeks on a separate bar application after staff reported long-running compliance questions.
The Midland City Council voted to adopt multiple zoning-related ordinances permitting on-premises alcohol sales and to rezone a separate property to allow retail wine sales, and it deferred action for two weeks on a pending special-use designation for an existing bar after staff reported unresolved compliance concerns.
The council unanimously approved an ordinance to grant a specific-use designation allowing the sale of all alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption for a set of lots described as the North 65 feet of lots 11, 12, 10, 11, and 12, block 15 West End Addition (agenda item 7). The mayor announced the motion carried unanimously.
Separately, the council unanimously approved an ordinance to grant a specific-use designation with term for Lot 1 Block 10, Lindsay Neighborhood Section 2 to allow sale of all alcoholic beverages and a special event center for on-premises consumption (agenda item 8). The mayor announced the motion carried unanimously.
Council also approved a rezoning request to rezone Lot 14 Block 22, Westin Addition (1510 West Texas Avenue) from O-1 office district to LR local retail district to permit retail and on-premises sale of alcohol; staff said no objections were received and recommended approval (agenda item 13). A nearby applicant, Tyler Snelson, described plans for a retail wine and education business and identified himself as a certified sommelier.
Action was different on the Detour Bar application (agenda item 10), a special-use designation (SUD) request for an existing bar at 1708 Rankin Highway. City planning materials note the location has operated without an SUD since 2017; staff recommended deferral after receiving new information about incidents at the site. The council voted unanimously to defer the item for two weeks so staff can investigate and return with recommendations.
Council and staff discussed enforcement options. A city attorney identified in the meeting as Nicholas said, from a legal standpoint, "they should not be operating and selling alcohol within the city limits without an SED. That's that's that's just what it is from a legal standpoint. Enforcement is is a different matter depending on the situation." Planning staff told the council the city lacks a mechanism to demand additional parking where a legal use's footprint is unchanged, and that any SUD conditions must be related to the consumption of alcohol.
Why it matters: The approvals allow new or continued on-premises alcohol uses at named properties and a wine retail use at 1510 West Texas Avenue; the Detour Bar deferral illustrates council and staff grappling with long-running compliance gaps and how the city enforces SUDs.
What happens next: Staff will investigate the incidents reported at the Detour Bar site and report back to council within two weeks. The approved ordinances will be published as provided in the ordinances and take effect according to city procedures.
