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Committee reviews request to waive Columbia Countys 600-foot alcohol buffer for proposed large grocery on Parcel 050002F
Summary
Mr. Schachter presented a request to waive the countys 600-foot separation requirement for alcohol sales to allow a grocery of 25,000 square feet or larger on Parcel 050002F; the waiver would not grant an alcohol license, which would still require a separate application and vote. The transcript does not record a final vote on the waiver.
Mr. Schachter told the Development and Planning Services Committee on Dec. 9 that a developer is requesting a waiver of Columbia Countys 600-foot separation requirement that otherwise limits the sale of alcoholic beverages near county-owned parks. The waiver request concerns Parcel 050002F on Columbia Road, owned by William Few, where the property owner is seeking to locate a grocery store.
According to Mr. Schachter, county code requires a 600-foot separation between establishments that sell alcohol and county parks. The proposed waiver would allow a grocery store of 25,000 square feet or larger to be located inside that buffer. "All you're doing is saying the waiver of all this says is that if they go to a grocery store of 25,000 square feet or larger, you will not require them to meet the distance separation," Mr. Schachter said.
Mr. Schachter emphasized the waiver would only affect the distance requirement and would not grant an alcohol license: "Nothing else says they get a alcohol license. They still have to apply for it... and you still have to vote for an alcohol license in the future." He said the waiver language was pared back so it would not become a broader agreement governing what could or could not be sold on the parcel.
A committee member asked whether outparcels or a strip development could allow a separate liquor store next to the grocery. Mr. Schachter replied the waiver, as drafted, applies specifically to the grocery use meeting the 25,000-square-foot threshold and would not cover a separate liquor store in an outparcel. Committee members also asked whether the waiver covers beer and wine only or full liquor; Mr. Schachter said the waiver language refers to "alcoholic beverages" and that any subsequent license for beer, wine or liquor would still require a separate application and approval.
The transcript records a motion to move the item to debate but does not include a final roll-call vote or tally on the waiver itself. The record therefore does not show whether the committee ultimately granted the distance waiver.
