The Flowery Branch City Council heard a proposal for a change to the city's alcohol code at it's meeting Thursday as part of a larger proposal for a possible "downtown dining district" in the city.
City Clerk Melissa McCain told the council that the code changes are to create more liberal alcohol rules within the proposed section of the city.
"The changes that we are considering are to mirror more of Gainesville's licensing as far as the downtown area to lighten up some of the restrictions," McCain said. "So that people can have beverages at some of our events, they can walk out of a pizza place and take it to an event."
She said the changes also include an amenities clause so that stores like nail salons can offer glasses of wine to customers so long as the workers serving the drinks have the proper pouring permits. The changes to the code won't be voted on until the council's next meeting on February 8.
McCain said it will be accompanied by a proposed change to the city's zoning map to designate the area between Knight Drive, Railroad Avenue, Chestnut Street and Mitchell Street as the "Downtown Dining District" where the new alcohol codes would apply.
"That was sort of the goal was to create a downtown area that had a little bit of a relaxed alcoholic beverage regulation," City Attorney Ron Bennett said. "We tried to balance, obviously, allowing businesses to get a little more creative with what they offer with the city's interests, obviously, and keeping people safe and making sure folks aren't out there just with alcohol flowing in the streets."
One local business owner spoke to the council afterwards, saying he was happy with what the city was doing, while saying he would also like to see a change to allow businesses to use the words beer or wine in their name. Bennett said city officials are open to feedback from council members before the proposal is put to a vote.
New neighborhood on East Main Street
The Flowery Branch council also heard a proposal for a rezoning request that would allow for a new townhome community on a more-than 18-acre tract of land on the south side of East Main Street.
The neighborhood would be called "Villages at East Main" and would feature over 90 housing units, mostly townhomes with some detached single-family houses. It would be almost directly across the street from a 55-unit subdivision that was approved by the city back in December of 2017.
City officials said they neighborhood would only have access from East Main Street, although the homes would back up close to Phil Neikro Boulevard.
