Statesboro City Council on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance, in effect exempting a defined area of downtown from the prohibition on bars and other pouring establishments locating within 100 yards of any church or educational building.
However, as City Attorney Cain Smith and City Manager Charles Penny emphasized during several discussions in the past couple of months, the mayor and council could still deny an on-premises alcohol license for any particular location, especially if any previously existing church objects.
For several years, the city’s ordinance has provided, already, for the council to grant a “distance waiver” for the licensing of a proposed restaurant, pub or low-volume establishment (such as a salon that serves wine) less than 100 yards from a church, school or alcohol addiction treatment facility. But it makes no provision for a waiver for a “bar” or a “bar with kitchen,” business types defined in the city law for places that make most of their money from alcoholic beverages. This provision allowing for a waiver for a specific restaurant, pub or low-volume license – but not allowing waivers for bars – remains in effect everywhere in Statesboro except the downtown area defined in the new carveout.
The passage now added states: “The proximity requirements for on-premises licenses shall not be in effect for that portion of downtown bound by Cherry Street on the south, Hill and Elm Streets to the north, College Avenue to the west, and Mulberry Street to the east.”
Recent situations that prompted city officials to consider the change involved “storefront” churches opening in previous business locations that could have blocked alcohol pouring establishments from opening in neighboring blocks downtown, and also the realization that Georgia Southern’s downtown Business Innovation Group complex, as a college or educational facility, could hinder certain businesses from locating around it.
In a previous work session and just before their 5-0 first-reading vote on the amendment on March 5, some council members expressed concern about possible effects on or objections from “legacy churches,” specifically First Baptist Church Statesboro and Statesboro First United Methodist Church. No citizens had spoken during the hearing that was part of the March 5 regular meeting.
After Councilmembers John Riggs and Ginny Hendley heard from First Baptist Church leaders, the council tabled the second-reading on March 19, and Penny led a public “information session” March 26, attended by First Baptist’s Executive Pastor Keith Hagan. First Baptist Church Statesboro Lead Pastor John Waters also came to the meeting but was called away. During the info meeting, Smith pointed out that First Baptist is over 100 yards from the northern boundary of the exemption zone, and Hagan asked a few questions and otherwise expressed appreciation for the city staff holding the meeting.
When the council held a special second-reading hearing Tuesday morning, Waters attended and spoke. But he expressed no objection, also thanking Penny and Smith for addressing concerns through the information meeting and Mayor Jonathan McCollar for his role.
Noting that First Baptist has been located on the same site for 141 years, Waters said, in part: “We don’t plan to relocate out of downtown Statesboro. We always want to be a positive impact, linking arms together and seeing the common causes that bring all of us together, helping Statesboro to be a place where families thrive and businesses flourish.”
After some council comments, Councilmember Paulette Chavers made the motion to enact the amendment, Councilmember Shari Barr seconded, and the vote was 4-0, with Councilman Phil Boyum arriving at the meeting shortly after that action.