Gainesville Council approves changes to alcohol ordinance, tables plan for drive-thru restaurant; Mayor gives "State of the City"

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville City Council has given first reading approval for what could become the first rewrite of the city's alcohol ordinance in 57 years.<br /> <br /> The four separate pieces of legislation were approved 4-1, with councilman George Wangemann casting the dissenting vote for each one.<br /> <br /> "This is a drastic change, (and) I'm not really sure this is good for our community," said Wangemann.<br /> <br /> "About 10 years ago I had a friend whose life was snuffed out just past the Dawsonville Bridge. He was hit head-on by a drunk driver."<br /> <br /> Wangemann also noted the recent passing of Lula City Councilwoman Vicki Chambers, who was also hit by a drunk driver, and mentioned that he'd like to have the police keep tabs on the number of drunk driving incidents the city sees with the new ordinances compared to the old ones.<br /> <br /> Others spoke in favor of the changes, like Matthew Vrahiotes, owner of Sweet Acre Farms Winery in Gainesville.<br /> <br /> "We would like to renovate (our location near the downtown square) and use it as a tasting room for our winery. We already have one on location, but we want to have a supplemental one in the downtown area," said Vrahiotes, indicating the changes will allow them to do that.<br /> <br /> He wagers that this will help bring economic development to the downtown area.<br /> <br /> The changes face final approval at the council's next meeting on February 17.<br /> <br /> (For more details on the specifics of the changes, see the first story linked below.)<br /> <br /> <b>PROPOSED DRIVE-THRU RESTAURANT TABLED ONCE AGAIN</b><br /> <br /> For a second time, the applicant of a rezoning plan that would bring a new drive-thru restaurant and retail shop to the corner of Thompson Bridge Road and Virginia Circle requested that the plan be tabled.<br /> <br /> Council approved the request unanimously.<br /> <br /> Steve Gilliam, a lawyer representing applicant David P. Johnson, said that they've reworked the plan, most notably eliminating all access off of Virginia Circle.<br /> <br /> The Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board had recommended denial of the plan (see second story linked below), but council agreed to reconsider the updated site plan at its meeting on March 3.<br /> <br /> <b>MAYOR DUNAGAN GIVES STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS</b><br /> <br /> In a nearly 10 minute speech, Mayor Danny Dunagan outlined the state of the city, which he says is booming with economic growth.<br /> <br /> "In Fiscal Year 2014, department expenditures were essentially at the same level as Fiscal Year 2008, prior to the recession," said Dunagan.<br /> <br /> He estimated the city's public utilities will be debt free by 2028, and said that the Gainesville Fire Department received an insurance organization rating of Class 1, the highest rating they could receive.<br /> <br /> "Only one in five in the state of Georgia, and less than 100 in the nation has that rating," said Dunagan.<br /> <br /> He said he expects 2015 to bring about an even bigger surge in economic development.<br /> <br /> <b>OTHER NOTES</b><br /> <br /> -The new Marco's Pizza on Thompson Bridge Road had their beer and wine license unanimously approved.<br /> <br /> -The City accepted a Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) grant for $23,500 for the fire department's "truck and equipment maintenance and the K-9 program."<br /> <br /> -Georgia Power presented a check for $10,221.60 to the Parks and Recreation Department for energy efficient savings measures they've taken in their facilities.