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Belleville council approves liquor license for convenience store at 6500 West Main after debate over panhandling
Summary
After extended debate about whether packaged liquor sales would attract panhandlers and hurt neighboring businesses, the Belleville City Council approved a special use permit and liquor license application for a convenience store at 6500 West Main (Jerry Greenwood). The council noted enforcement and license-revocation procedures are available if problems arise.
The Belleville City Council approved a special use permit and liquor license application for an existing convenience store at 6500 West Main on April 6, 2026, after several alderpersons raised concerns that packaged liquor sales could attract panhandlers and disrupt nearby businesses.
The clerk read the Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation that the Greenwood application be approved 5–0; Alderperson Randall moved approval. During discussion, an alderperson opposed the application, describing recent incidents in which individuals solicited customers near businesses and urging the council to ``vote this down.'' That speaker said the convenience store's packaged liquor could bring a different element into a small plaza and drive customers away from neighboring establishments.
Other council members and staff responded that the location is already operating as a convenience store and that packaged alcohol would be sold as packaged, to-go only, not consumed on the premises. Council members also noted the city has enforcement procedures: liquor licenses are approved by the mayor's office and can be called in for a hearing and potential revocation if police report incidents.
The council took a roll-call vote and the motion carried. Alderperson Randall moved the ordinance related to the zoning case; the clerk recorded individual responses and stated the motion carries. The transcript does not clearly record a full numeric roll-call tally in legible form; council members stated their votes aloud during the roll call.
Council members said they would monitor the location and that enforcement, including hearings to revoke a license if necessary, is available to address problems that might arise after the license is issued.
