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Council rejects variance to allow beer and wine sales near Keeley Elementary
Summary
After hearing from staff and the applicant, the council voted 4–3 to deny a request that would have allowed off-premise beer and wine sales at a Waterview Plaza shop located within TABC distance rules of Keeley Elementary; councilors cited proximity to child-centered uses and traffic concerns.
The council considered a request to grant a variance to TABC distance requirements so a retail suite in Waterview Plaza could sell wine and malt beverages for off-premise consumption. Staff explained distance measurements (300 feet to a school measured front door to property line) and identified the nearest school building. The applicant, a co-owner who purchased the business on June 15, described store layout, video surveillance, ID-check procedures and industry-standard ID-scanning software.
Council members debated the school's proximity, nearby youth activity centers and the risk of congestion; concerns about student exposure and vehicular crossings were raised. A motion to grant the variance (amended to correct an ordinance reference from "church" to "school") failed by a 4–3 vote, and the variance was denied.
