Board approves beer-and-wine convenience use at 1000 Army Post Road and adds hours limit

The Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a conditional use allowing beer-and-wine sales (a liquor-store classification that excludes distilled liquor) at an existing 3,000-square-foot building at 1000 Army Post Road, and added an operating-hours condition, the chair announced.

Planner Frank Dunn explained the classification allows a store where more than 40% of sales are beer and wine for off-premise consumption; no distilled liquor sales were proposed. Dunn said staff found the site met required separation distances (150 feet from schools, parks, daycares, places of worship where applicable) and would be compatible in the mixed-use corridor, and recommended approval subject to conditions (including maintaining a solid fence along a property line and standard noise, trash and code-compliance conditions).

Board members pressed staff to clarify proposed hours and whether the CUP could limit how much of the building is used for alcohol sales. Frank Dunn said the applicant initially planned to use about 1,064 sq ft for sales with the remainder for storage but noted staff's recommendation allows the liquor-store classification up to the full 3,000 sq ft footprint under the current control of the applicant; legal counsel advised the board can limit floor area by condition in some circumstances but must consider practical implications for storage and operations.

Applicant representative Lloyd Ogle said the operator planned to invest roughly $150,000 in the initial build-out and would accept reasonable hour limits; the board added a condition that operating hours be no earlier than 7 a.m. and close by midnight. Mel Pins moved approval subject to staff recommendations plus the hours condition; the motion passed 7-0.

Next steps include building-permit review and liquor-license processing through the city clerk's office; as with other conditional uses, the board may reconsider or revoke approval if the use creates a nuisance.