Local Property Owner Asking City To Set Aside Alcohol Control Commission Ruling Allowing Bar To Operate Beside Church
On Monday night, local attorney and property owner William H. Stoll is expected to ask the Rome City Commission to set aside a ruling by the Alcohol Control Commission (ACC) that would allow an alcohol-serving bar to operating alongside a local church.
On Monday, Jan. 25, the ACC granted a beer and wine pouring license at Rambo’s, 1817 N. Broad Street.
However, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, Stoll sent a letter to the Rome City Clerk’s office asking the Rome City Commission for an appeal and/or review of the ACC’s previous ruling.
Stoll, who owns a building near the Rambo’s site, said he rents his building out to a church, which has a 10-year rental lease.
While Georgia state laws do not protect churches from beer or wine pouring establishments, they do offer a 300-feet protection buffer between churches and liquor-pouring establishments.
Rome’s city code, however, does require a 300-feet buffer from the entrance door of the beer pouring establishment to the nearest property line of any church, using legal routes.
However, the city code defines a church as a “free-standing building which is owned by the religious organization or association and primarily utilized for religious services, ceremonies or instructions.”
Since Stoll, not the religious organization, owns the church, the building would not be protected from area encroachment by beer and wine pouring establishments.
The ACC voted 4-1 to approve a beer and wine pouring license for Rambo’s, with George Kastanias opposed to the motion and Rome City Commissioner Milton Slack abstaining from voting.
Slack said he did not agree with the city code’s definition of a church, as it relates to the ACC.
Stoll is expected to speak as a guest at Monday night’s city commission meeting, and no other related issues are listed on that agenda.
In other business, the Rome City Commission is expected to:
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Proclaim the Rome Police Department’s Officer of the Year.
- Conduct a public hearing for an annexation request for property located on Chulio Road between Valley View Drive and Boyd Valley Road into the city of Rome.
- Conduct a public hearing to adopt zoning maps for the city of Rome and Floyd County.
- Announce that the Rome City Commission Planning Retreat will be Feb 17 & 18 at Berry WinShape Center.
- Receive the Committee on Committee nominations, which include the reappointment of Frank Brown to the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority and the appointment of Steven McDowell to the Downtown Development Authority.
The Rome City Commission meets on Monday, Feb. 1, at Rome City Hall, with caucus scheduled for 5 p.m. followed by the commission meeting at 6:30 p.m.
