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Oklahoma City Considers Nixing Permanent Alcohol Overlays For Restaurants

The owners of this building at 1215 N. Western Ave. in Oklahoma City has requested an alcohol zoning overlay.
Brent Fuchs
/
The Journal Record
The owners of this building at 1215 N. Western Ave. in Oklahoma City has requested an alcohol zoning overlay.

The Oklahoma City Planning Commission is reviewing a change to how the city oversees alcohol-selling establishments. The proposal could affect the timeline for bars and restaurants to open their doors, according to The Journal Record’s Molly Fleming:

The city does not issue alcoholic beverage licenses. However, the commission reviews the zoning overlay that allows a bar, restaurant or tavern to sell alcohol. The process can take up to 100 days, on top of getting the property zoned for the use. In addition, some operators do not realize they need that special zoning overlay even though their base zoning allows the building to be used for the stated purpose. Once the alcohol overlay is approved on the property, it’s permanently attached.

The city currently requires two layers of zoning; one for the property’s use, and one for the sale of alcohol.

The alcohol zoning is permanent, which has concerned some city planning commission members. The planning department has proposed a change that would expedite the process for restaurants that sell low-point beer, Fleming reports:

If a restaurant has a full bar, the establishment’s outdoor seating must be 100 feet away from residential areas. If the restaurant can meet that requirement, then it doesn’t need any other zoning. If the eatery is closer to homes, the operator will have to apply for a special permit. A bar or tavern will also need a special permit once its base zoning is approved. That would still take 100 days. Neither special permits for restaurants nor bars would be permanent to the property. That would give the city the right to revoke the permit if the business closes or is declared a nuisance.

The commission will review the policy on Thursday, and could vote on it in July.

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Brian Hardzinski is from Flower Mound, Texas and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He began his career at KGOU as a student intern, joining KGOU full time in 2009 as Operations and Public Service Announcement Director. He began regularly hosting Morning Edition in 2014, and became the station's first Digital News Editor in 2015-16. Brian’s work at KGOU has been honored by Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI), the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, the Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters, and local and regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. Brian enjoys competing in triathlons, distance running, playing tennis, and entertaining his rambunctious Boston Terrier, Bucky.
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