Times are a Changing for Alcohol Sales in Lawrenceville

City Council Business Meeting:  September 12, 2011

Public Hearings

Old Business:

Item 1: 2nd Reading – Special Use Permit: , represented by owner Chris Colin, was granted approval to sell beer and wine by the glass in its new location within city limits. Johnny’s will move from its county jurisdiction location of 2,400 square feet to a larger space, just under 4,400 square feet, bringing Johnny’s under the governance of city ordinances.

A Special Use Permit must be granted by the city to any business selling alcohol. Josh Ferguson of the city’s Planning and Zoning Department along with the Planning Commission, recommended the approval of this permit to the council.    

Motion passed 3-0

After the vote, Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson said to Colin, “Welcome to Lawrenceville.”

Council Business Meeting

Old Business:

Item 3: 2nd Reading – Ordinance Amendment – Drinking in Public:  City Attorney Lee Thompson, Jr. stated that this was a revision to the city’s Alcohol Ordinance that makes a change to Section 34-101. This section authorizes how alcohol is sold at festivals and outdoor events held in the city. Currently the ordinance states anyone selling alcohol at these events must have an alcohol license from the city.

This amendment would allow anyone with an alcohol license issued by the state to sell alcohol at outdoor events as long as they also adhered to city ordinances and regulations.  

Councilman Tony Powell stated that this amendment came to the council by way of the Lawrenceville Tourism & Trade Association, LTTA. He said this amendment would give LTTA the ability to easily attract and use more regional vendors in putting on city sponsored outdoor events with alcohol sales. Mentioned specifically was the upcoming Rock-n-Ribs Festival to be held in October.

Motion passed 3-0

New Business

Item 4: 1st Reading – Ordinance Amendment – Alcohol Beverage Sales:  City Attorney Lee Thompson, Jr. stated that this was a revision to the city’s Alcohol Ordinance Section 34-201, paragraph 116 that addresses wine shops alcohol sales specifically. This amendment would allow wine shops operating in the city to sell beer and wine by the drink. Currently there is only one wine shop operating in the city, .

Council was asked to approve the 1st Reading of this amendment, placing the 2nd Reading on the agenda of council’s October Business Meeting. After the 2nd Reading, during this meeting, council will then vote to approve or deny the amendment.

Before voting the council was told by Mayor Johnson that discussion about this amendment would be done at the September Work Session.  

The motion to approve the 1st Reading was passed by a 3-0 vote.

At the end of the agenda for the Business Meeting, the council moved into Executive Session.