It would be nice if the Monroe City Council could be proactive when it discusses how to regulate liquor licenses. But when Wal-Mart requested for its council-approved Supercenter a Class A license the city doesn't have, aldermen were forced into a reactive mode yet again.
The council's Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee (JORC) on Monday voted 3-1 to recommend creating six new Class A packaged liquor licenses - which are intended for retail establishments to sell liquor for off-site consumption. The number of Class A licenses would increase from the six already spoken for to 12.
If the council heeds the committee's recommendation, it would be a decision consistent with one that aldermen made last year when they created new beer- and wine-only licenses for restaurants. It also would be the right decision, made with caution with a reasonable cap on the number of new licenses.
When Monroe Main Street asked the council to give new and existing restaurants without licenses the ability to sell beer and wine, aldermen responded with a move they thought would be conducive to economic development. That theory's sound, but it's too soon to tell whether it will have any positive impact.
The same theory applies to retail development. Giving new stores - like the Wal-Mart Supercenter, and perhaps others to follow - the ability to sell alcohol won't necessarily add an incentive, but at least removes an impedement.
A quota of some sort is necessary. It gives the council the ability to monitor the growth of licenses, and stop it if it thinks it needs to.
The discomfort in this decision is that it is being made with a particular business tied directly to it. And it's not just any business, it's Wal-Mart. And, the request came after a months-long permit process for the Supercenter.
Perhaps the city could consider adding liquor license questions into its planned use development (PUD) process. If potential developers might consider applying for liquor licenses, the availability and appropriateness could be discussed before a final permit decision is made.
The council's Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee (JORC) on Monday voted 3-1 to recommend creating six new Class A packaged liquor licenses - which are intended for retail establishments to sell liquor for off-site consumption. The number of Class A licenses would increase from the six already spoken for to 12.
If the council heeds the committee's recommendation, it would be a decision consistent with one that aldermen made last year when they created new beer- and wine-only licenses for restaurants. It also would be the right decision, made with caution with a reasonable cap on the number of new licenses.
When Monroe Main Street asked the council to give new and existing restaurants without licenses the ability to sell beer and wine, aldermen responded with a move they thought would be conducive to economic development. That theory's sound, but it's too soon to tell whether it will have any positive impact.
The same theory applies to retail development. Giving new stores - like the Wal-Mart Supercenter, and perhaps others to follow - the ability to sell alcohol won't necessarily add an incentive, but at least removes an impedement.
A quota of some sort is necessary. It gives the council the ability to monitor the growth of licenses, and stop it if it thinks it needs to.
The discomfort in this decision is that it is being made with a particular business tied directly to it. And it's not just any business, it's Wal-Mart. And, the request came after a months-long permit process for the Supercenter.
Perhaps the city could consider adding liquor license questions into its planned use development (PUD) process. If potential developers might consider applying for liquor licenses, the availability and appropriateness could be discussed before a final permit decision is made.
