By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—Paris City Manager Kim Foster said while remodeling is ongoing at City Hall, public meetings the next few months will be held in the conference room at the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce.
Major remodeling is in full swing, with work already beginning in the offices and bathrooms at City Hall and renovations of the meeting room to begin soon. Friday’s meeting of the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Commission will be the last one in the city meeting room for several months.
In other business during the meeting, the commission referred a proposed ordinance regarding restrictions on beer licenses to the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Control board. The ABC board will consider the proposal and make a recommendation to the city.
Foster noted that the city periodically looks at proximity restrictions associated with beer licenses and with the possibility of a new restaurant being opened downtown, the city thought it was a good time to revisit the issue.
City officials are proposing that the city take away proximity requirements for anything described as a restaurant in the B-2 district. Foster noted that the spirit of the proximity issue was geared more toward solely serving liquor (as in a tavern) as opposed to a restaurant which also serves alcohol.
Foster noted the topic of restrictions for potential businesses in close proximity (150 feet or less) to a church, school, public playground, or park is discussed and debated among staff. She said because of the mixed use of the downtown which includes several churches and a park, the restrictions on having beer license seem counterproductive to the city’s desire for restaurants in the downtown area.
The city also approved second and final readings on three rezoning requests. All have also had public hearings on the requests:
Robert Swayne had submitted a request for rezoning of his property at 807 E. Wood St. from R-2M to B-1 and at the recommendation of the Municipal Regional Planning Commission, the city also approved rezoning three additional lots on that block to B-1, also.
Mike Garner requested rezoning of property at 246 Memorial Drive from B-1 to TRB. The planning commission recommended the portion of the lot facing Memorial Drive be rezoned to TRB, but the back portion remain R-IM.
Troy Crawford requested rezoning for property at 600 Russell Street from M-2 to B-1. The property is owned by Harlan Crawford and the Crawford’s have a potential buyer who wants to develop the property for retail sales.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin.
