Summary
The City has found that there are certain special events where local groups or event hosts wish to offer the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages as a part of the event. Special events held on private property may obtain a temporary beverage license for the sale of alcoholic beverages. Currently, any special event held at a City-owned property or right-of-way is prohibited from offering alcoholic beverages for sale or consumption, with the exception of events held at the Swick House. This City-owned facility is exempt from the prohibition against the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverage on municipally owned properties per Chapter 4 of the City of Alachua Code of Ordinances. Other than this exception, the City’s current regulations would not allow the sale or consumption of alcohol for an event held on other City property or right-of-ways.
In order to allow the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages on certain City properties or within right-of-ways, Staff recommends that such events be required to obtain a Special Event Permit, per Section 4.6 of the LDRs. These types of events could include weddings, beer and wine tastings as part of a downtown event, music festivals, etc. Such events could further economic development in the City by attracting more visitors to patron local businesses. By requiring a Special Event Permit, the City can ensure adequate regulation to protect the public health, safety and welfare, and address impacts related to a proposed event, such as traffic flow and control, vehicular and pedestrian safety, noise, lighting, and effect on surrounding properties. The proposed amendment refers to Chapter 4, Section 4.2(c) of the City of Alachua Code of Ordinances for limits on hours, and allows for conditions to be placed on the event that limit the location of the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages to designated areas.
In addition to amendments related to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages, Staff recommends that activities related to agritourism be exempt from the requirements for a Special Event Permit. This amendment ensures consistency between the City's Land Development Regulations and State law, as the State preempts local government regulation of agritourism activities, as defined in Chapter 570.85- 570.89, Florida Statutes.
The proposed text amendments in their entirety are incorporated as part of Ordinance 18-07. A companion amendment to Sub-Part A, General Ordinances, of the City’s Code of Ordinances, Chapter 4, Alcoholic Beverages, will also be proposed to the City Commission.
The amendments to Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances would mirror the proposed amendments to the LDRs by requiring that a Special Event Permit be obtained, and would also allow for the sale or consumption of alcohol at two additional City-owned facilities: Theatre Park and the Legacy Park Multipurpose Center.
On January 9, 2018, the Planning & Zoning Board (PZB) held a public hearing on the proposed text amendments to the City's LDRs. Following the close of the public hearing, the PZB voted 5-0 to find the proposed Text Amendments to the City’s LDRs consistent with the City of Alachua Comprehensive Plan and in compliance with the City's LDRs and to transmit such finding to the City Commission with a recommendation to approve. Draft minutes of the January 9, 2018 PZB Meeting are included within the materials attached to this item.
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