Changes to Fayetteville’s Alcohol Beverage Ordinance are in the offing. The City Council Nov. 6 heard the first reading of proposed changes affecting Sunday on-premise alcohol sales, distance requirements from residences and payment of license fees. The second reading and a vote is expected Nov. 20.

The council had previously addressed Sunday sales as a ballot item and, after its passage by voters Nov. 4 by a 58.35 percent to 41.65 percent margin, included those sales in the ordinance. Sunday sales for on-premise consumption is proposed for the hours of 12:30 p.m. until 11:59 p.m.

As currently written, the ordinance also has a distance requirement of 200 yards between businesses selling alcohol and residences situated outside the Main Street District.

The ordinance amendment will reduce that distance to 100 yards. Such a reduction would be consistent with the state law requiring a distance of 100 yards between such businesses and the nearest church. The state has a 200-yard requirement for schools.

Regarding the proposed distance adjustment, City Manager Joe Morton said in October the change would potentially affect one area, a small commercial center adjacent to the Autumn Glynn subdivision on Ga. Highway 54 East. He said a restaurant located in this planned center has applied to serve beer and wine.

Under the current distance requirements they would not be permitted a license because of the proximity to the nearest residence, though it would be permitted a license under the 100-yard requirement, Morton said.

The amendment change would also allow for annual license fees to be prorated for those businesses licensed after Jan. 1 and for the annual license fee to be billed on an annual or semi-annual basis.

The city’s billing software does allow for billing on a semi-annual basis and “we feel that this will help our businesses without adversely impacting the city’s cash flow,” Morton said.

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