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Council defers liquor-license decision for 930 Washington Avenue to allow required public hearing
Summary
A request for geographic restriction relief and related license items for a proposed business at 930 Washington Avenue were deferred so the city can hold the ordinance-required public hearing and notify nearby property owners.
The Racine Common Council on June 3 deferred consideration of two license-related items for 930 Washington Avenue — a beer license application and a requested exemption to the city’s geographic restriction on Class A licenses — after the city attorney said state/municipal ordinance requires a public hearing for geographic-exemption requests.
Members of the public had urged support for the project, describing a renovation plan and neighborhood benefits. The council discussed whether a two-thirds rule could override the ordinance; the city attorney advised that two-thirds overrides apply to council rules, not to ordinances. The attorney also explained that the city must notify property owners within a half-mile and provide at least five days’ notice before the hearing.
To speed the process the council modified the referral so the public hearing can occur at the next council meeting rather than waiting for two Public Safety & Licensing committee meetings. The amended motion to defer both items to the next council meeting passed unanimously (15–0).
The applicant was told the earliest opportunity for a public hearing will be the next common-council meeting after required notice; the council provided no final vote or license decision on June 3.
