City Commission declines to overturn ACC ruling on bar next to building where church meets
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William Stoll had asked the board to overrule the Alcohol Control Commission, which issued beer and wine pouring licenses last week for Rambo’s bar and restaurant at 1817 N. Broad St.
Stoll leases the building next door to start-up congregations. The city’s ordinance requires bars to be at least 300 feet from church property — and Stoll contended “the spirit” of the law should protect his building, even though he, not a church, is the owner.
Mayor Wright Bagby Jr. said the Alcohol Control Commission’s decisions are final under the city’s regulations, but Stoll’s argument merits review.
“We’ll ask the ACC to study it and see if they want to make any changes to the ordinance,” Bagby said. “It would not affect this issue, though.”
Also on Monday, the board annexed 220 acres of undeveloped land off Chulio Road that adjoins a 114-acre tract annexed in December.
No one spoke in opposition during the public hearing.
The land stretches between Valley Drive and Boyd Valley Road, south of Nottingham Estates subdivision. Commissioners informally agreed to Floyd County’s request for assistance in upgrading the substandard Tom Bing Road if future development warrants.
Commissioners also passed a resolution allowing condemnation, if necessary, of three parcels along the planned Wolfe Drive.
The new road will run from North Avenue to the rear parking lots of the Rome High and Middle schools complex. The 2006 special purpose, local option sales tax package contains $2.9 million for the secondary access.
The board also gave Bagby authority to sign off on a request for part of an abandoned Norfolk-Southern railroad corridor that would be converted to a trail.
Commissioners initially hoped to acquire the entire 12.5-mile corridor that runs through Vann’s Valley and into Polk County. However, opposition arose from property owners — including Floyd County Commissioner Irwin Bagwell — and a Jan. 27 meeting set up by the county failed to resolve the issue.
Commissioners also heard that Rome Police Chief Hubert Smith is slated to be honored with a proclamation at the state Capitol on March 16. Smith is retiring in July after 42 years with the city.
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« twisted wrote on Tuesday, Feb 02 at 02:31 PM »
How silly! If the 10 year lease was executed by the church before the bar applied for their permits, the church should be afforded the same rights as a church that that owns their property. The only exception that I could see that may be needed would be if the proposed bar property had a recent history of being a bar, and even then the timing/dates of the leases should be considered.