By MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
for Glasgow News 1
After postponing a vote on the matter at its Feb. 24 meeting, the Glasgow Common Council voted 8-1 Monday to approve the first reading of an ordinance establishing an entertainment destination center downtown.
The ordinance, which requires approval of two readings to become final, would essentially allow alcohol sales at special events and/or at special designated times within the established boundary of the “center.”
As proposed, the area contains most or all of 13 city blocks that include the Glasgow Public Square and extend outward from there to include the Plaza Theatre, a few restaurants/bars and the future farmers market.
The option is meant to boost economic and tourism development while also allowing for better control of alcohol use in the downtown area, including at city events like concerts. Participating businesses would sell alcoholic beverages that would have to be served in a specific style or type of cup that patrons could then carry with them as they peruse other parts of the designated EDC.
This could only take place during certain hours, and determining which hours those should be was among the reasons for postponing the vote in February. The drafted ordinance initially approved Monday allows participation from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays plus “during events held pursuant to a special event permit within the EDC.”
To bring this about, the city itself would apply for an entertainment destination center license from the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and participating vendors that already have or later obtain a license to sell such beverages by the drink would have to have an agreement with the city to abide by the established rules.
The boundaries of the EDC could change later, but it would require council approval.
Councilman Freddie Norris said that he and some community members who have spoken with him about the issue are concerned it would add a burden/create additional problems for law enforcement agencies, and he felt there were other methods that could be chosen to boost tourism.
“I’m not for it,” he said during the discussion before the vote, during which he was the only one to voice opposition.
Also during the meeting, the council heard a report from Nick Miller, manager of the Glasgow Regional Landfill, about activities there and unanimously approved the following:
– a resolution authorizing a $38,422 grant application for state transportation grant funding for overtime and “live savers” conference attendance for the police department;
– a resolution through which the city agrees to comply with certain segments of federal law should it receive certain federal grant funds for its transit program and authorizes application for said grant as well as committing the local share of matching funds necessary to support the service for a minimum of five years;
– second reading of an ordinance rezoning approximately 4.434 acres at 2455 New Bowling Green Road (U.S. 68-Ky. 80) from light industrial (I-1) to highway service business (B-3), sought by Newcomb Oil for the purpose of constructing a FiveStar convenience store/gas station with the possibility of having another business on a neighboring out lot; and
– second reading of an ordinance providing for budget amendments. The changes include appropriating and/or moving between accounts a total of $780,000 toward the construction of a farmers market, receipt of bond-sale proceeds of nearly $5.4 million for the American Legion Park overhaul, and receipt and appropriation of $100,000 in federal grant money for green infrastructure stormwater analysis.
Comments