'Don’t take our way of living away from us'

MILTON — The City Council approved March 13 to move forward with the Alcoholic Beverage Overlay District and hold a public hearing next month.

The Milton Planning board met March 1 and recommended adopting the overlay district as an extended area of alcohol sales and on-premise consumption in the RC1 and DCM zoning district. Councilman Jeff Snow motioned to approve the item, and Councilman Alan Lowery seconded.

“What this does — it’s not going to approve an ordinance — it will just put into motion a process in order to get the overlay district approved which would start with a public hearing,” City Manager Brian Watkins said.

The public hearing will take place April 10. Two public hearings are required to pass an ordinance.

“If Mayor Meiss had been here tonight, I was going to read to him from the city charter that gives him the power, after you pass an ordinance — which is basically what you’re attempting to do with this overlay — to veto it,” Milton resident Mary Golden said.

Golden was going to personally ask the mayor to veto what he knows is not right, she said, because the north end of Elmira Street is not a bar district. It has churches and historic homes.

“North Elmira is not a place for stand-alone bars,” Golden said. “Don’t take our way of living away from us. We’ve spent a lot of money restoring our historic homes. Leave us alone.”

Milton resident Frances McDonald said she will work hard to change the ordinance if it passes.

“You don’t understand because you don’t live there,” McDonald said. “I’m speaking for the whole historic district. It needs to be protected…preserved…enjoyed.”

None of the properties on North Elmira Street are in an area where a bar or tavern could be established, according to Jorgenson, without a religious institution first opting out of the 500-foot-separation law.

Several residents approached the council opposed to the overlay district, and City Attorney Heather Lindsay read a letter by Barrie Bamberg of Milton with suggestions for success in the city.

“Let’s work to prove we have something better to offer than drunks on barstools, which is what the drinking-only establishments of the area have,” Bamberg said in her letter.

According to Milton resident Theresa Messick, she has a petition signed by more than 60 people located in and around the historic district opposing the overlay district.

Resident and business owner Cindea Booth suggested giving existing investors in the area the opportunity to opt out of allowing bars or taverns near their property, like the churches. Jorgenson said he would need to look into whether that is allowed.

Lowery called the question — a vote to end discussion — after more than an hour. Snow seconded and the motion passed.

The council then voted on the original motion, to move forward with the overlay district and hold a public hearing, which also passed.