LITTLE ROCK, AR – Tuesday night, Little Rock neighbors fighting a battle to stop a store from selling beer and wine did not get a chance to speak out. Little Rock City Directors cancelled a public hearing about the alcohol permit.
City staff recommended the Little Rock Planning Commission deny the conditional use permit, but it issued it, and now, neighbors will have to go to another meeting Wednesday to try to stop the store from selling beer and wine.
Several people who showed up at the Little Rock Board of Director’s meeting to voice concerns about a proposed beer and wine permit for a now empty store on Arch Street never got the chance to speak Tuesday night.
“I know the whole neighborhood was against this, so I’d hate for us to lose this, and the neighborhood to lose this, because one person didn’t follow through,” said Little Rock City Director Joan Adcock.
The objector to the Planning Commission’s July approval of the conditional use permit needed for the store to start selling beer and wine did not file the proper paperwork needed for the scheduled public hearing.
Many city directors remain concerned an increase in alcohol sales could lead to an increase in crime.
“With the Planning Commission’s action, then the ABC is going to think that the City is okay with this. So, it is important that we make an appearance at the ABC Board to let them know what happened on this,” says City Director BJ Wyrick.
The ABC meeting is Wednesday morning at 9.
City staff did not want the Planning Commision to approve the CUP because it said too many other stores selling alcohol were already in the neighborhood. It is also concerned about homes which are close to the proposed store’s site.
City staff recommended the Little Rock Planning Commission deny the conditional use permit, but it issued it, and now, neighbors will have to go to another meeting Wednesday to try to stop the store from selling beer and wine.
Several people who showed up at the Little Rock Board of Director’s meeting to voice concerns about a proposed beer and wine permit for a now empty store on Arch Street never got the chance to speak Tuesday night.
“I know the whole neighborhood was against this, so I’d hate for us to lose this, and the neighborhood to lose this, because one person didn’t follow through,” said Little Rock City Director Joan Adcock.
The objector to the Planning Commission’s July approval of the conditional use permit needed for the store to start selling beer and wine did not file the proper paperwork needed for the scheduled public hearing.
Many city directors remain concerned an increase in alcohol sales could lead to an increase in crime.
“With the Planning Commission’s action, then the ABC is going to think that the City is okay with this. So, it is important that we make an appearance at the ABC Board to let them know what happened on this,” says City Director BJ Wyrick.
The ABC meeting is Wednesday morning at 9.
City staff did not want the Planning Commision to approve the CUP because it said too many other stores selling alcohol were already in the neighborhood. It is also concerned about homes which are close to the proposed store’s site.
