Alcohol Zoning Ordinance Moving Forward - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Nicole Ebat

OMAHA(KPTM)-- The city planning board approved a measure Wednesday that would give the city more control over alcohol retailers.

It'll have to be voted on in the city council before it can go into effect.

The measure would add a host of new zoning laws, but would also impose a $75 a year fee on any business with a liquor license.

Those funds would go toward alcohol enforcement.

Supporters say the new measure gives the city the power to deal with problem alcohol outlets.

During the public meeting Wednesday, some people mentioned it's taken over a year to deal with problem bars in their neighborhoods using existing liquor laws.

They say the new ordinance mostly asks liquor businesses to be a good neighbor.

"For those who do business well, which is most of them, they aren't even going to have to think about the ordinance because they're adhering to those conditions already and it's pretty basic common sense. It really is a good neighbor policy," said Diane Riib with Project Extra Mile, a group that fights against underage drinking.

If an alcohol retailer were deemed a nuisance, the city could take away its certificate of occupancy.

The business would still have its liquor license, which is mostly controlled by the state, but they would no longer be able to use the building for a public reason.

The deputy city attorney told the board this ordinance covers problems that stem from a large amount of alcohol retailers in one area that existing liquor laws don't necessarily take care of.

"It's the loud noise, it's the graffiti, it's the nuisance, it's the customers that buy their can of beer and go out behind the convenience store and use the neighbor's garage as a urinal," said Tom Mumgaard.

He mentioned that taxpayers spend money every year picking up after all of this. He said this would just be shifting some of the responsibility back on the industry.

Another part of the ordinance would give neighborhood groups, residents or City Council members the ability to request an "alcohol impact overlay" zone. This would give the council an extended amount of control over what alcohol retailers could do in the area, including limiting how many businesses are able to sell alcohol.

Many business owners KPTM spoke with were not fond of the proposed ordinance—mostly because of the fee.

Members of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and several restaurant and liquor representatives voiced their strong opposition during the public hearing. 

Nicole Ebat

OMAHA(KPTM)-- The city planning board approved a measure Wednesday that would give more control over alcohol to the city.

It’ll have to be voted on in the city council before it can go into effect.

The measure would add a host of new zoning laws, but would also impose a $75 a year fee on any business with a liquor license.

Those funds would go toward alcohol enforcement.

Supporters say the new measure gives the city the power to deal with problem alcohol outlets.

During the public meeting Wednesday, some people mentioned it’s taken over a year to deal with problem bars in their neighborhoods using existing liquor laws.

They say the new ordinance mostly asks liquor businesses to be a good neighbor.

"For those who do business well, which is most of them, they aren't even going to have to think about the ordinance because they're adhering to those conditions already and it's pretty basic common sense. It really is a good neighbor policy," said Diane Riib with Project Extra Mile, a group that fights against underage drinking.

If an alcohol retailer were deemed a nuisance, the city could take away its certificate of occupancy.

The business would still have its liquor license, which is mostly controlled by the state, but they would no longer be able to use the building for a public reason.

The deputy city attorney told the board this ordinance covers problems that stem from a large amount of alcohol retailers in one area that existing liquor laws don’t necessarily take care of.

"It's the loud noise, it's the graffiti, it's the nuisance, it's the customers that buy their can of beer and go out behind the convenience store and use the neighbor's garage as a urinal," said Tom Mumgaard.

He mentioned that taxpayers spend money every year picking up after all of this. He said this would just be shifting some of the responsibility back on the industry.

Another part of the ordinance would give neighborhood groups, residents or City Council members the ability to request an “alcohol impact overlay” zone. This would give the council an extended amount of control over what alcohol retailers could do in the area, including limiting how many businesses are able to sell alcohol.

Many business owners KPTM spoke with were not fond of the proposed ordinance—mostly because of the fee.

Members of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and several restaurant and liquor representatives voiced their strong opposition during the public hearing.