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Council approves rezoning for indoor sports venue with alcohol amid questions about childcare proximity
Summary
On second reading the council approved rezoning a 6.73-acre parcel to permit an indoor sports facility to sell alcohol; council discussed Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) distance rules (300 ft vs. 1,000 ft) and whether a school or district must request the larger buffer for day-care protections.
On second reading the Amarillo City Council adopted Ordinance 8-2-34 to rezone a 6.73-acre parcel for an indoor sports facility with a specific use permit allowing on-premises alcohol sales. The item previously failed to secure a unanimous vote and therefore came to the non-consent calendar for a final council vote; it passed at the Feb. 10 meeting by a 3–2 margin.
Councilmembers and staff discussed state rules governing alcohol sales near schools and day-care facilities. A staff member explained that Texas law (section 109.331, cited by a public commenter) treats rules that apply to public schools as also applying to day-care centers and that the governing body of a school district can request an extended (1,000-foot) buffer; the city’s ordinance currently enforces a 300-foot rule in code. Planning staff cautioned that the TABC regulatory questions are separate from the zoning vote: the council was deciding land use, while TABC and statutory distances may impose additional constraints.
Public commenters had raised safety concerns about alcohol near youth programs and whether the applicant followed licensing timelines; supporters said the venue would be a professionally managed sports facility where alcohol is an amenity and could be restricted during youth events. The council’s majority approved the rezoning on second reading; council minutes show a 3–2 final vote but the transcript does not record an itemized roll-call of yes and no votes.
The ordinance became effective on adoption; staff noted follow-up obligations regarding TABC rules and any formal requests from school districts regarding increased buffers.
