Council grants local consent for full restaurant liquor license to Touch of Tuscany; applicant outlines safety measures for ropes course

The council granted local consent for a new full-restaurant liquor license requested by John Handelman for Touch of Tuscany, a restaurant planned above the existing ropes course. Staff reported that all required paperwork and background checks had been submitted and recommended approval; the license will only be issued after building construction is complete and staff-provided alcohol-serving training is finished.

Council members raised safety concerns about offering full-service alcohol on a site adjacent to an activity where patrons climb while harnessed. The applicant said the restaurants and ropes-course operations will be separate but under the same entity, that the ropes-course system records participant activity, and that staff would monitor alcohol orders and could perform breath tests or otherwise refuse participation for impaired patrons. The applicant indicated a preference for a policy of no drinking immediately before climbing and for staff vigilance.

The council approved the local-consent request by roll call. No conditions limiting the license were recorded in the motion; staff reminded the council that state regulations require a minimum food-sales percentage for such licenses.