WORKSHOP ITEM Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk
Title
OFF-SALE LIQUOR LICENSE REVIEW - CONTINUED
Background
At the September 7 workshop Council requested more information to continue their discussion regarding off-sale liquor licenses.
Location Maps
The first map outlines current off-sale locations with the 1-mile radius per ordinance and a half-mile radius for discussion. The second map shows the parcels based on zoning that allow for off-sale liquor stores.
Surrounding Cities
Below is the number of off-sale licenses allowed by city and restrictions, if any:
Andover
Population 30,000
1/6,000 residents
5 licenses allowed - 3 available
Anoka - municipal
Population 17,142
Blaine
Population 64,188
1/7,000 residents, 1-mile radius
9 licenses allowed - 1 available
Coon Rapids (recently amended)
Population 62,359
8 Class A licenses, 1-mile radius, full off-sale, min floor area 2,500 sq ft
Unlimited Class B licenses; full off-sale in conjunction with primary use of minimum floor area 25,000 sq ft; eliminated restrictions for # and proximity
Fridley - municipal
Population 27,476
Ham Lake
Population 15,891
1/5,000 residents
4 licenses allowed, none available
Lino Lakes
Population 20,000
8 licenses, no population/proximity restriction
Ramsey
Population 26,000
3 licenses, no population/proximity restriction
Spring Lake Park - municipal (currently)
Population 6,805
Potential Options
Staff has prepared some options for Council review:
Option 1
Create an additional license type that would allow beer and wine only in conjunction with and secondary to an approved primary use with a minimum square footage requirement.
Example: Class B Off-sale Intoxicating Liquor Licenses. No Class B Off-sale liquor establishments shall be located within a 2-mile radius of any other licensed Class B Off-sale intoxicating liquor establishment. Class B liquor operations must be in conjunction with and secondary to an approved primary use which shall have a minimum floor area of 50,000 square feet and sell intoxicating malt liquor and wines only.
Option 2
Create an additional off-sale license type that would allow full intoxicating liquor in conjunction with and secondary to an approved primary use with a minimum square footage requirement.
Example: Class B Off-sale Intoxicating Liquor Licenses. No Class B Off-sale liquor establishments shall be located within a 2-mile radius of any other licensed Class B Off-sale intoxicating liquor establishment. Class B liquor operations must be in conjunction with and secondary to an approved primary use which shall have a minimum floor area of 50,000 square feet and sell all intoxicating liquor.
Option 3
Amend the manner in which licenses are issued with regard to proximity, ratio, or both. Reducing the proximity from 1 mile to 1/2 mile and population restrictions from 1/7,000 to 1/5,000 for example, would bring the number of allowable licenses from 9 to 13 and open up other available sites (see attached map); restrictions for schools and churches would still remain but could also be reviewed:
Example: Sec. 6-36. - License required; number of licenses.
(b) The city council shall issue off-sale liquor licenses in such a manner that no license shall be issued to a property which is located within one-half mile of the location of an existing off-sale license. The number of off-sale licenses issued shall not exceed a ratio of one license for every [7,000] 5,000 population. The council is not required to issue the full number of off-sale licenses that it has available.
Option 4
Council could remove the proximity and population restrictions altogether:
Sec. 6-36. - License required; number of licenses.
(b) The city council shall issue off-sale liquor licenses in such a manner that no license shall be issued to a property which is located within one mile of the location of an existing off-sale license. The number of off-sale licenses issued shall not exceed a ratio of one license for every 7,000 population. The council is not required to issue the full number of off-sale licenses that it has available.
Option 5
Council could make no changes and leave the existing ordinance language in place.
Recommendation
Council direction is requested.