Council moves to advertise public hearing on Sandbar liquor-license transfer amid neighborhood concerns

Councilors authorized publication of a public hearing notice for a liquor-license transfer that must be advertised before the current safekeeping period expires. Staff said the Sandbar’s liquor license is being moved into the city from a nearby township location; because the license has been in safekeeping the transfer must be publicly noticed now or the license risks lapsing.

Staff explained the background of the related 21 Hampton Bar and Grill property: the previous owner, Daniel Bishop, died in 2021 and estate handling helps explain the lapse in active licensing. The current proposal would move an in-safekeeping license to a new location; staff clarified the council’s immediate action was to approve advertisement for a public hearing, not to approve the transfer itself.

Councilors raised neighborhood concerns about moving a drinking establishment into an R1 residential district and noted questions about whether the prior use is a continuing nonconforming use. Zoning staff (Francis) said the property is in an R1 district, described the licensing and permit history and said additional checks (liquor control, public health food license, permits) would be needed at formal review and the public hearing will allow neighbors to comment.

Because the transfer itself was not approved on the record in this transcript, councilors instructed staff to schedule the public hearing and to provide fuller documentation and neighborhood notification ahead of any vote.