![Milton Planning Director Randy Jorgenson and resident Teresa Messick address the councol on the proposed Alcoholic Beverage Overlay District. [ALICIA ADAMS | Press Gazette]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-664c81bb-f69e-6c4c-e053-0100007fdb0d-97e438b9-scaled.jpeg)
MILTON — City staff brought a new draft map of the proposed Alcoholic Beverage Overlay District to the Feb. 22 Committee of the Whole meeting. Staff amended the overlay area and highlighted parcels that would be affected by the ordinance forbidding consumption or sale of alcohol within 500 feet of a place of worship.
“We have gone through several iterations of this map and I think we have [cut] it down a little bit to basically be the Highway 90 corridor, and then what was the original tourism district, and… those parcels that would be affected by the 500-foot rule from churches,” City Manager Brain Watkins said.
If churches opt out of the 500-foot rule, the number of forbidden parcels may change.
Councilwoman Alan Lowery made a motion to move the proposal forward to the Executive Committee meeting; Councilwoman Peggi Smith seconded the motion. The motion passed with Holley and Councilwoman Pat Lunsford opposed.
Councilwoman Sharon Holley said she thought residents addressed the council during a pervious discussion on the item and a compromise was made to only include Caroline Street and Willing Street in the overlay district. However, the latest map did not illustrate that.
“Any changes we made to this map were because the council directed us to do it,” Watkins said.
Councilman Casey Powell said he remembers the conversation, but the council never directed staff to make those changes. Watkins assured the residents would have the opportunity to speak on the matter in the Executive Committee and City Council meeting before a final decision is made.
“It needs to be stressed that this is [for] straight bars and taverns,” Milton resident Theresa Messick said. “They don’t have to serve any food… I would like to see other than just bars and taverns. If we’re going to expand this, let’s make it nice; let’s make it kid-friendly.”
Milton resident Cassandra Sharp said the proposed district was smaller than the previous proposal, with mostly commercial properties and sites for future development around the courthouse and the riverfront.
“You already took out all the residential areas, and in fact, you’ve left off on Canal Street another corridor that is mostly commercial in some of those areas,” Sharp said. “I think this is a huge compromise… and I don’t think you could scale this down anymore if you had any hopes of economic development… there are no homes over there.”
Planning Director Randy Jorgenson asked the city attorney if the proposal would need to be reviewed by the Planning Board before council action, and Lindsay said she would get back to the council and staff with more information.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Council revisits alcohol overlay district