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Largo officials give nod to liquor in library, city parks
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007 |
LARGO – Elected officials will ask the public to help decide on new codes meant to spur development in the downtown area and to generate more income from city parks and the Largo Public Library.
Revised codes were approved in concept by the City Commission during its Oct. 23 workshop. City staff must now finalize the new codes and offer them to the commission for adoption.
The new ordinances, to be introduced in the next few weeks, would include provisions that would make it easier for restaurants serving liquor to locate in the West Bay Drive and Clearwater-Largo Road areas of the city’s downtown area.
While the proposed codes would prohibit bars within 150-feet of each other, large restaurants would be exempt from that distance limit. Bars would also not be allowed within 150 feet of any day care center.
Commissioner Mary Gray Black said she would hold off on giving full support for the changes, saying she has received several telephone calls from residents objecting to them.
“I have received several phone calls from people who don’t want alcohol anywhere in the library but would accept that if it were limited to the Jenkins Room,” she said.
Mike Staffopoulos, the assistant city manager, said city planners don’t want alcoholic beverages to be limited to the large Jenkins meeting room.
“This might limit the market for that room,” Staffopoulos said. Earlier this month, Casey McPhee, the library director, told commissioners that when an event including alcohol is held while the library is open, the drinks are limited to the meeting room until the library has closed.
“They do not allow the alcohol to mix with the general public,” added staff Attorney Mary Hale.
Commissioner Gigi Arntzen said alcohol has been allowed in the courtyard area and some other parts of the library.
“It has not been an issue to date and we do not believe it would become an issue,” said Arntzen.
Black said her callers have also objected to alcohol being allowed “in public parks where children and families are gathered.”
The code revisions would give City Manager Norton “Mac” Craig authority to approve or deny events serving alcoholic beverages in any city facility. While Black suggested the manager should be given a list of requirements, this was objected to by other commissioners.
“I can remember back in the early 90’s the commission had to approve every wedding reception and I do not want to do it or go back to that and I don’t think we’ve had a problem,” said Vice Mayor Harriet Crozier. She referred to a time when the city gave its manager the authority to approve the special events liquor licenses in the city.
“I know that recently there was a group that came and the city manager did his homework along with the police and they decided this was not appropriate for Largo Central Park,” said Crozier.
Craig said that applicant wasn’t denied a permit, but was told one could be issued if no alcohol was served and the event didn’t violate the city’s noise ordinance.
While support for the new codes appeared to have unanimous support from the commissioners, most voiced some reservations and what they hoped the new codes would accomplish.
It’s the big picture the commission is aiming for, said Commissioner Gay Gentry. “I would love the idea that there would be one restaurant after another (downtown) but I would be most disturbed if it were one bar next to the other.
“I’m thinking of Key West, I’m thinking of Lauderdale. I’m thinking of some of those places and I guess I’m saying I like the idea of having the entertainment, the night life, the business, the money flowing in. But I don’t want the sleaze.”
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Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007
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