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Commissioners press for parish-city alignment on alcohol-sales rules, citing neighborhood impacts
Summary
Caddo Parish commissioners asked staff to compare parish and city alcohol-sales rules and discussed zoning and equity concerns after residents and commissioners described liquor stores concentrated in some neighborhoods.
Commissioners asked staff to compare Caddo Parish and city regulations governing alcohol sales and to arrange a briefing with the official who oversees alcohol licensing so the commission can consider aligning rules.
The commission president described long-standing patterns of liquor establishments clustered in predominantly Black neighborhoods and urged exploring zoning or legislative options to address neighborhood impacts. He said some stores were located within residential areas and recalled a city moratorium on new licenses that had since been lifted.
Commissioners emphasized they do not want to block legitimate business but said they must examine whether grandfathered licenses and past permitting practices have resulted in inequitable distributions. One commissioner asked staff (Jeff) to pull city and parish licensing rules and bring the responsible official to a future meeting.
The discussion noted trade-offs: parish authority is limited outside city limits and some businesses are grandfathered; the commission agreed to investigate prerequisites, zoning distances from schools and churches, and possible coordination with the city.
No formal motions on policy changes were recorded; staff will follow up with comparative regulations and identify any hearings that must be scheduled.
