matinae’s blog

Monroe City Council rejects alcohol code

the monroe bishopric council on tuesday unanimously voted down an ordinance that would allow hip businesses that sell alcohol and churches to locate next to each other.

Following nearly 30 minutes of debate on the issue, the council rejected an ordinance that would have revoked existing language in its alcoholic beverage ordinance restricting the licensing of businesses that sell alcohol within 300 feet of a church or synagogue.

  Council members Jay Marx, Ben Katz, Arthur Johnson, Red Stevens and Robert Johnson all voted against the ordinance’s passage.

the ordinance was recommended by municipality attorney nanci summersgill to make it easier for churches to hit upon in business areas. the issue arose because of a request by denomination tabernacle church to use a building at 1905 auburn ave., located within 300 feet of two nightclubs. churches be obliged get borough recommend sanction to locate anywhere within the city.

“The problem I have with this is that we have codes in zoning we live by,” Stevens said. “Now we’re going to rewrite a whole system because a church wants to move in.”

Katz, who represents the area that Faith Tabernacle Church wants to locate, said his concern was the effect the amended ordinance would have on future businesses near the church that have licenses to sell alcohol.

Summersgill told council members that an alternative amendment could be approved that would allow churches to sign a waiver that would allow future businesses with alcohol licenses to move in.

That amendment, Summersgill said, would take care of any future problems on a case-by-case basis.

Katz said he wasn’t convinced any of the proposed changes to would not negatively affect future businesses. Summersgill disagreed.

“I would bet my life on it,” Summersgill said.

Summersgill said she would submit an amended ordinance allowing churches to sign a waiver at the council’s next regular meeting March 25

Related posts: Glen canyon, Worlds funniest joke, Airborne recall, Craig bierko, Stone fish