Downtown could see new alcohol sales under proposed change to city regulations

A change is being considered to Poplar Bluff city regulations that could allow more alcohol sales by the drink in the downtown area.

Businesses are currently required to make at least 50 percent of their sales by serving food, according to information presented Monday night to Poplar Bluff City Council members.

City officials have proposed removing this restriction for the area zoned in the downtown area, between Pine Street and the Black River.

The city would instead add more stringent questions to the conditional use permit application process, which is used citywide for locations that wish to sell alcohol by the drink.

The matter moved to the May 18 voting session with a 6-1 vote of the council.

Council member at-large Ron Black voted against the measure, saying he was concerned about how the regulations would be followed by future city officials.

“Whether it works or not depends on how studious the ones who are responsible are,” said Black. “That part does concern me.”

Individuals will need a good business plan in order to answer the additional questions, said city planner Matt Winters.

Mayor Robert Smith asked Winters if he felt like this change was a good idea.

“We have lots of empty store fronts downtown… To attract those types of businesses that are not going to detract from our downtown, but they’re going to improve the conditions of our downtown and invest in our downtown and bring new businesses and new visitors to our downtown, yes, I think it is,” said Winters.

“I tend to agree with you,” said Smith.

For example, the city has been approached in the past with proposals for a piano bar and another business that would offer painting and alcohol by the drink. Neither would fit the current zoning, Winters said.

The new questions would include:

How would the location not adversely affect the general welfare of the surrounding business?

How would it not result in an undesirable concentration of premises for similar establishments?

How would it not aggravate existing problems created by your use (such as littering, public drunkenness, etc.)?

Other questions ask for information on: net employment gain; increase in sales tax; is it a unique addition; long-term economic improvement contributions; and positive upgrade of the area.

“By putting these things in place, we could take a step in the right direction …(toward) businesses that are going to attract people wanting to spend money downtown,” Winters said.

In other business:

• Voted to move to the May 18 voting session a request by the Poplar Bluff Police Department to destroy antiquated records from 2011-2014.

• Moved to the May 18 voting session a policy regarding small wireless communications facilities in all zoning districts. This relates to small cell towers which can be placed on top of light polls and in other areas, said Winters. A policy is needed to prevent associated equipment boxes from blocking sidewalks and other areas.

• Discussed and approved requests related to the annexation of property at: 481 State Hwy. W, owned by Joe and Karen Knuckles; and property at 465 State Hwy. W, owned by Kathy Ledwidge. Both properties are located across from McLane Park on Highway W, said Winters. This is the first step in the process, which will move to planning and zoning now for zoning recommendations, said Winters. The council is expected to act separately on those recommendations.

• Discussed and approved a change order for the 11th Street bridge project, related to the contract time and delays regarding utility work that was required, said city manager Mark Massingham.