Agenda - Council - 03/08/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS Once the City Council develops a policy on whether the number of licenses should be limited to two, should be unlimited, or should be held to a specific number, staff can draft the appropriate ordinance. It is Staff's recommendation, nowever, that the City Council set a limit on the number of licenses issued and establish criteria for awarding such licenses. Specifically, Staff suggests the following steps: The City Council establish eight zones within the community (based on factors such as population, distance, and availabi- lity to commercially zoned area), in which one license would be issued per zone. The establishment of licensing zones would ensure that 'liquor stores would be distributed throughout the community for the resident's convenience. Require new licenses to have a building and land with an assessed valuation of $300,000 minimum, property taxes of approximately $14,000 per year. investment generating - Require licensed premises to have a minimum floor area of 6,000 square feet. The rationale for %his recommendation is based on the following: The Coon Rapids market can sustain additional liquor stores, which will provide for greatDr competition and an increased level of shopping convenience: Limiting the number of licenses to a reasonable number will protect the community from problems associated with excessive competition which increases pressure among liquor stores to sell to minors in order to meet profit margins. This requires additional police surveillance and increased city costs. Establishing minimum assessed valuations and minimum square footage requirements will provide additional revenue to the taxing jurisdictions and will.promote bigger and De.~e~' ~ - quality liquor establishments. A~tachment B on page is an example of how the City could be divided · into eight zones. Note: Eight is not a ragical number. The Council could establish greater or fewer zones, as they desire. if the City Council wishes to proceed with the zone concept of licensing with the restrictions as noted, the following process could be implemented: - A.v_r.~s_m_n. of the =~a.l= ..... y of licenses and acceptance of aoD!ications ov_., say, = three month period. -7-