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Board approves special-use permit to relocate liquor store; police say site complies with 1,000-foot school buffer
Summary
The board approved a special-use permit allowing Stock Tank Liquor to relocate within a nearby commercial development. Residents raised concerns about proximity to the high school; the police chief and staff cited state statute 34-206 (1,000-foot buffer) and said the proposed site is roughly 1,850 feet from Siloam Springs High School. Staff acknowledged a prior permitting error at the current location.
The Siloam Springs Board on Sept. 2 approved a special-use permit to allow Stock Tank Liquor to relocate into a newly constructed building on North Progress Avenue after staff and the city’s police chief confirmed the new location meets statutory distance requirements from the high school.
Senior planner Ben Rhodes described the request as a move of an existing retail controlled beverage-sales operation into a new building under construction just north of the current shopping-center location. Rhodes said the proposed building is in a C2 commercial zone and that the planning commission recommended approval with screening where the site abuts a single-family home.
Several residents spoke in opposition. Rebecca Wyatt cited moral and public-safety concerns and asked the board to restrict certain C2-allowed uses near the high school. Diana Horton voiced worries about DUI and underage access to alcohol.
Chief of Police Scott Miller cited state law (Ark. Code § 3-4-206) establishing a 1,000-foot buffer between retail controlled-beverage sales and schools; he said the new site is approximately 1,850 feet from Siloam Springs High School and therefore outside the statutory buffer. That distance was echoed by staff in response to questions about the record.
Jeff Stokes, owner of Stock Tank Liquor, told the board the planned move is roughly 75 feet from his current location and said the change should not materially affect community impacts; he confirmed the business previously obtained required state approvals for its current site. City staff acknowledged a prior staff-level error that allowed the existing store to operate without a recorded special-use permit; staff said additional checks have been implemented to prevent similar oversights.
After questions and public comment, the board approved Resolution 36-25 granting the special-use development permit by roll call.
What happens next: The liquor store may proceed with local permitting and building steps for the new location; staff will apply the screening and site conditions discussed by planning staff.
