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Wine Tastings May ComeTo Downtown Sebring

By Dan Fearson | Highlands Today

Published: October 10, 2007

SEBRING — The Community Redevelopment Agency tentatively approved changes to the city's ordinance regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol. During Monday night's meeting, the board approved on-premise consumption of alcohol within 100 feet of a church.

The changes will still have to be approved by city council members before they take effect.
If approved, the changes will allow more businesses to hold wine tastings.
The vote was unanimous among CRA members.

Gene Brenner, president of the CRA, said that change would be helpful to businesses located downtown.
CRA member Kelly Griffin, the panel's youngest member, has said in the past that she thinks the changes would help lure young adults to businesses.

"Wine tastings are very popular for people my age and if we can change our ordinance so things like this can happen, I think we should," said Griffin.

Possible Zoning Changes

CRA members were also presented with a packet during Monday's meeting, detailing possible plans for changes to its zoning regulations by Sebring Administrator Bob Hoffman.

The changes would include the rezoning of the downtown district, with possible changes to land usage for business and residential zones. The changes would also include new parking requirements, as well as updated maximum and minimum space requirements when it comes to developments.

An outline within the packet said that the purpose of the changes would be to "recognize the Sebring Community Development Area and to establish a zoning classification unique to that area."

Hoffman mentioned several times that downtown Sebring has many unique design qualities, such as building structures that should remain the standard for development. He also said that at the same time the city could adapt to state-wide norms which have been successful and use their zoning patterns as examples when it comes to modifying their own.

CRA members were asked to review the information they received. Hoffman said that he would like to get public input for the possible changes, and that public meetings would probably be scheduled.

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