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County offers to reopen application window for selected distilled spirits retail districts
Summary
County staff proposed reinitiating the administrative application process for some distilled spirits retail districts, potentially opening the Macedonia district (and optionally Bells Ferry/92) for new applications on a defined timetable; board asked about leaving districts open versus scheduled windows.
County staff proposed on April 15 that the board amend its 2023 administrative implementation resolution to reopen selected distilled spirits retail districts for new applications.
Bradley Day told commissioners the 2023 process completed an initial round of district openings and applications; one previously approved applicant at the Bells Ferry/Sixes Road area remains in plan review with a June 2026 building completion deadline, and another applicant in Hickory Flat is seeking an extension. Staff said there was new interest in the Macedonia district, which did not receive an application during the 2023 window.
Mr. Day presented proposed language that would reopen districts the board designates and set a specific application window (staff suggested opening at 9 a.m. the day after the resolution and closing May 20 at 5 p.m. for the Macedonia district as an example). He said the process would mirror the last round: staff would check completeness, and where multiple complete applicants apply for the same district the ordinance requires a lottery to determine the applicant who may pursue licensure and permitting.
Several commissioners asked why the process would run on a closed window rather than remaining continuously open. Mr. Day said closing the window at a set time gives staff a defined slate for administering lottery procedures and moving to plan review.
Why this matters: Opening a district allows applicants to pursue packaged distilled spirits retail in specified commercial districts subject to County policy and a multi-step administrative and permitting process that includes local licensing and site review.
The board received the proposed resolution language for consideration; the staff presentation indicated the board could pick which districts to re-open and set the application timetable.
