Liquor store ‘requirements’ passed by city
There is not much the city of Clinton can do to regulate liquor stores since citizens of the city passed approval of package stores in November.
The state is in charge of licensing — unless the liquor store also sells beer, then the city’s Beer Board will grant approval for that part of the business.
But there are two things the city has the ability to do — govern where or how many liquor stores may open within the city limits.
City Manager Roger Houck said the city can limit the number of stores within the city — something the state’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service said is not preferable, or the city can determine in what zoning areas package stores may operate.
The city chose that option, passing an ordinance for public hearing saying package stores may only operate in heavier retail zones. That would ensure a package store couldn’t open in a lighter retail zone such as Market Street.
The heavier retail zones would include portions of Charles Seivers Boulevard and areas near the interstate.
Houck said the city has had at least two inquiries about opening a package store in the city.
In both instances, he said, those locations were near the interstate.