Jacksonville council tables proposed changes to liquor ordinance

The Jacksonville City Council voted Monday to table a measure that would loosen restrictions on sales of liquor at restaurants, after hearing from seven residents concerning the proposal.

The amendment would stipulate where liquor can be sold in the city, possibly allowing restaurants within 500 feet of churches or schools to apply for a liquor license. The proposed change would also remove Jacksonville State University as a school.

 The council spent the entirety of a 30-minute work session before the meeting discussing the amendment.

Under the city’s current ordinance, no business operating within 500 feet of churches or schools can be approved for a license.

According to the proposed change, restaurants located close to church or school buildings could apply to sell spirits as long as 51 percent of their profits come from sale of food.

Jones said Effina’s is the only restaurant interested in obtaining a license right now, and cannot do so because of its proximity to JSU.

Councilman Truman Norred didn’t like the idea of dropping the required distance from churches, and he worried there’d be no way to keep restaurants that obtain licenses from functioning like bars after dark.

Six Jacksonville residents spoke against the proposal, including Rev. Ken Phillips, of Westside Baptist Church, who asked the council to consider an exception to the restriction just for Effina’s.

The proposal sprang from discussions about ways to boost economic development along West Mountain Street, which borders JSU’s campus.