The city of Suwanee has updated its alcohol ordinance to reflect state law regarding the distance between churches and businesses that serve alcohol, a side effect of churches springing up in shopping centers.
"We previously had a distance separation requirement, that we have (now) removed," said Marty Allen, city manger.
City council approved the update Tuesday at their voting session.
"Churches are commonly setting up in shopping centers, which previously put an area within the shopping center that would not allow a restaurant to come in," said Allen.
Allen said the old radius was approximately 300 feet, but now there is no radius.
This way, Allen said, a church setting up in a shopping center will not discourage a restaurant that serves alcohol from setting up in the same area.
This does not, however, apply to package stores, which still must abide by a distance requirement, though Allen said established stores cannot be "kicked out" by a church setting up in the same area.
"Existing businesses are always grandfathered in," said Allen.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/8/439085/suwanee-updates-alcohol-ordinance-to-accommodate-churches-in-shopping-centers