Thursday March 28th, 2024 6:15AM

Helen begins process of allowing alcohol at secondary resort buildings

HELEN — The Helen City Commission is taking steps to allow hotels with resort amenities to enhance their offerings.

At Tuesday morning’s meeting, the commission approved the first reading of an amended ordinance that would allow hotels with at least 25 rooms and an on-premises alcohol consumption license that under the same ownership operate additional resort-type amenities to obtain an additional hotel auxiliary on-premises license to serve alcoholic beverages at an additional facility located on the hotel property.

The issue arose when the owners of adjacent Valhalla Resort Hotel began the purchase of Innsbruck Golf Course, a purchase scheduled to close in December.

“The request was brought to us by the owner that’s purchasing the golf course,” Mayor Jeff Ash said. “That will make Innsbruck a multi-functional place to come stay inside Innsbruck.”

Currently, Valhalla Resort Hotel offers fine dining at Caledonia, 24-hour room service, complimentary valet parking, complimentary Habersham County Airport services, Twigs Onsite Art Gallery & Giftshop, Concierge service, private dining in the Abbey Wine Cellar, a pool and cabana bar, casual dining at the rooftop Sky Bar, a gym and fitness facility, and free shuttle service to local attractions and events.

“The auxiliary second license cannot be issued unless the main business has full beer, wine and liquor license pouring,” Ash said. “They have in-room service licensing. They also have Sunday sales, and a hotel, and a full-fledged restaurant. The request is to have an auxiliary license in a second building not contiguous with that building that’s used for other purposes by the resort, such as running the golf course on a day-to-day basis, and banquet facilities.”

Helen City Attorney Carl Free said Barnsley Gardens in Bartow County has similar hotel auxiliary on-premises license for service of alcoholic beverages at an additional facility located on the hotel property. A property in Chattahoochee Hills also offers the same option.

“Our attorneys have researched it and found out it’s legal,” Ash said. “That’s the only way we would do it is we will operate under state law and charge the appropriate fee for it.”

Ash said the purchaser plans to use the current Innsbruck Clubhouse for dining and special events.

“It will be used as a secondary restaurant, but probably not to the level of food service [offered in the hotel],” Ash said. “All of your golf courses normally have food sales because people just play golf all day.”

Ash said he believes amending the city’s alcohol ordinance will be beneficial to all concerned.

“I think it’s exciting,” Ash said. “It’s something new. It’s good for the residents, good for the golfers, good for Helen and that’s why we looked at it.”

A second reading and possible vote will take place at the December city commission meeting.

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