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Neighbors oppose new tavern; Omaha council lays over Haven Express Lounge liquor-license vote
Summary
Residents living 49 feet from 1217 Leavenworth urged denial of a liquor license for Haven Express Lounge over noise, safety, and zoning concerns; the council laid the application over for one week to allow the applicant and neighbors to meet.
The council paused a final decision on a liquor-license application for Haven Express Lounge at 1217 Leavenworth after extensive public opposition and detailed questioning from council members.
Applicant Devonte Nun described the proposed operation as a "food-first lounge" and said he has run a food truck in the community for six years, passed required inspections, and intends to train staff in ID-checking and responsible service. Nun told the council he was willing to meet neighborhood representatives to answer outstanding questions.
Several neighborhood speakers said a tavern at that location would be immediately adjacent to a strictly residential development (the Row Houses at Soma), where residents said the lounge would sit about 49 feet from homes. John Thomas, a Soma HOA board member, told the council the community is "an un-fenced, compact, quiet, strictly residential community of 123 residential homes" and raised concerns about exhaust hoods, fire safety, and generators from food trucks. Carrie Waple said the proposed bar would be "literally right underneath our bedroom window" and opposed placing a drinking establishment that close to residential units. Other speakers raised zoning compatibility and pedestrian-safety concerns.
Planning staff told the council that the proposed use complies with zoning regulations for use but that the planning department does not typically review site plans or building elevations as part of liquor-license processing. The city law department noted council action is a recommendation to the state liquor commission; a favorable council vote would be forwarded to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for final action.
After questioning from council members and a pledge by Nun to meet with Soma residents, Council Member Hug moved to lay the item over for one week to allow a neighbor meeting; the motion passed on a roll call vote of 6–0. The clerk confirmed the council’s recommendation will go to the liquor commission in Lincoln, which makes the final issuance decision.
