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Council hears public hearing, staff recommends temporary distance variance for Saint Anne’s carnival
Summary
City staff presented a request to grant Saint Anne’s Catholic Parish a temporary 241-foot distance variance from the city’s 300-foot prohibition, allowing beer and wine at the parish carnival Sept. 11–13; staff said no objections were received and the applicant described security and licensed catering arrangements.
The Coppell City Council opened a public hearing to consider a resolution granting Saint Anne’s Catholic Parish a temporary 241-foot distance variance from the city’s 300-foot prohibition on on-premise alcohol sales near a school.
City Secretary Lauren Thoden told the council the carnival is scheduled for Sept. 11–13 and that the variance would allow on-premise beer and wine sales on the parish grounds. Thoden cited the relevant local code sections as presented to council: she said “section 6 16 3 of the city's code of ordinance prohibits the sale of alcohol within 300 feet of a church, public, or private school” and that “section 6 16 4 of the code of ordinances permits your discretion to grant that variance.” Thoden said the request is temporary and staff had not received public objections as of the date of presentation; she reported outreach to the adjacent private school, which expressed no concerns.
Ken Whistler, representing the applicant, told the council Saint Anne’s has served beer and wine at the carnival for several years without incident and said organizers take service and security seriously, noting partnerships with licensed caterers and secure staff.
A council member asked whether any complaints had been received in prior years; Thoden said none and that the police chief had confirmed there have been no issues with the event historically.
With no speakers registered in opposition, the council moved toward closing the hearing and signaled support for the temporary variance pending formal action at the subsequent vote. The council will consider resolution language and authorization for the mayor to sign the temporary-event permit as required for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission temporary-event permit process.
The hearing record shows the council closed the public hearing without substantive public opposition; next steps include formal resolution approval and mayoral authorization so the parish may complete its TABC temporary-event permit application.
