Appeal Against LR Beer Store Dropped by Board of Directors Due to Delay in Paperwork
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 19, 2012
The Little Rock Board of Directors was forced to remove an objection from its agenda regarding a store that would sell alcohol, because the proper paperwork wasn't filed on time.
The board was asked to rescind the Planning Commission's approval of a food store that would also sell beer in the 2500 block of Arch Street.
Those who have objected say too many locations serving alcohol are already in the area. Earlier this year, the board approved a conditional use permit allowing planning commission approval's to be appealed for store selling alcohol that were under 5,000 square feet.
Tonight though, the board was unable to vote on the issue, because no appeal ever made it through on the paperwork.
"Our staff did everything by the level of the law. It was solely up to the objector and they didn't follow up on the procedure. That's what put us where we are here tonight," said Director Ken Richardson. "The only appropriate action is to remove it from the agenda, and then there's the meeting tomorrow people can attend at ABC."
The Alcoholic Beverage Control board (ABC) will meet on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. to consider the location's permit.
Members of the Little Rock Board of Directors encouraged the public to attend that meeting to voice objections.
In addition, the board voted unanimously "present" following a public hearing on a group home in Little Rock that would serve alcoholics. The public hearing came at the request of an objector who opposed the home's location in a residential area.
According to those who were at the meeting at the time, Directors Ken Richardson and Erma Hendrix left the chambers before the vote was taken.
Under federal law, alcoholism and substance abuse are considered disabilities, so the board could not deny a special permit for the home based solely on its purpose to serve those individuals, according to City Attorney Tom Carpenter.
The board was asked to rescind the Planning Commission's approval of a food store that would also sell beer in the 2500 block of Arch Street.
Those who have objected say too many locations serving alcohol are already in the area. Earlier this year, the board approved a conditional use permit allowing planning commission approval's to be appealed for store selling alcohol that were under 5,000 square feet.
Tonight though, the board was unable to vote on the issue, because no appeal ever made it through on the paperwork.
"Our staff did everything by the level of the law. It was solely up to the objector and they didn't follow up on the procedure. That's what put us where we are here tonight," said Director Ken Richardson. "The only appropriate action is to remove it from the agenda, and then there's the meeting tomorrow people can attend at ABC."
The Alcoholic Beverage Control board (ABC) will meet on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. to consider the location's permit.
Members of the Little Rock Board of Directors encouraged the public to attend that meeting to voice objections.
In addition, the board voted unanimously "present" following a public hearing on a group home in Little Rock that would serve alcoholics. The public hearing came at the request of an objector who opposed the home's location in a residential area.
According to those who were at the meeting at the time, Directors Ken Richardson and Erma Hendrix left the chambers before the vote was taken.
Under federal law, alcoholism and substance abuse are considered disabilities, so the board could not deny a special permit for the home based solely on its purpose to serve those individuals, according to City Attorney Tom Carpenter.
