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Council considers cutting brewery/retailer separation near churches and schools from 300 to 150 feet
Summary
On second reading, council reviewed Ordinance 1046 to reduce the required separation between beer retailers and churches or schools from 300 feet to 150 feet; Charlie Tripp of the beer board said the change affects two longstanding convenience stores and would level the competitive landscape and modestly increase tax revenue.
Council opened the second reading of Ordinance 1046, a zoning amendment that would change the buffer distance between locations selling beer and churches/schools from 300 feet to 150 feet.
Charlie Tripp, speaking for the city’s beer board, told council the board unanimously recommended the amendment and identified two existing convenience stores that would be affected: a store near Thomas and North Tibbs Road (adjacent to Brown Community Baptist Church) and the Marathon store at West Main and Wilson adjacent to Brownfield Baptist Church. He said both locations predate the 2007 legalization of beer sales within city limits and that the board believes the existing restriction unfairly penalizes owners of long-standing businesses.
“We all highly recommend the passage of this amendment,” Tripp said, adding that the change would apply to only two locations and could increase city tax revenue without harming nearby churches.
Council closed the public comment portion related to the ordinance and invited a motion for approval on second reading. The transcript records the second-reading consideration and motion activity but does not contain the detailed roll-call breakdown of the final vote in the provided excerpt.
