Council approves 'entertainment district'

The Sebring City Council unanimously approved Tuesday the creation of a Community Redevelopment Entertainment Overlay District, and, on first reading, voted to suspend its restrictions therein on alcohol sales within 300 feet of a church.

Second and final reading will be on April 19, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The idea is to create a downtown destination by attracting eateries, especially "Life after 5 p.m." establishments like dinner restaurants, pubs, sports bars, taverns and entertainment venues, such as night clubs that offer music, dancing, jazz or karaoke.

Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Pete Pollard gave the board a brief history Tuesday and explanation about the measure.

"...This actually has been under discussion for several years; it's been bounced back and forth between the board and the attorney to discuss various options to create a more positive investment environment in the heart of downtown," said Pollard.

"(City Attorney Bob) Swaine provided council last year (December 2010) with a series of three options to consider. One of them was an overlay district. Of the three the overlay district seemed to make the most sense to us..."

Three business owners said they weren't aware of the proposed change when asked on Monday, but two were in favor of more upscale dinner restaurants only. The third thought anything that brings foot traffic downtown would help.

Pollard said Wednesday, "This is nothing new," and, "It sat in the city attorney's office for a long time." He was asked by city staff to move it along last week.

Councilman Scott Stanley asked Tuesday, "Other than the Salvation Army, were there any other churches affected?"

"The Baptist Church is within 300 feet of some of it," Pollard said. There are a couple of small churches near Pine Street and South Ridgewood Drive within the affected area, Swaine said. The Church of the Brethren is awfully close, Pollard said.

Councilman Bud Whitlock asked, "Isn't it a 300-foot distance from door-to-door?"

"That's the way it's been measured in the past," Pollard answered. "And that's a point of contention. There are those in the past who have argued it should be from property line to property line."

Whitlock said he was concerned a small church could come into a vacant building in the Circle and prevent another business from opening that sells alcohol.

"And that's why I'm for this amendment 100 percent," he said.

Two ladies took to the podium Tuesday night in opposition. However, no one was there officially representing a church.

"I have a problem thinking as present lines are drawn right now the Salvation Army can leave church on a Sunday night had have a full bar right next to the church with drunk people falling out of it," said Cyndy Stanley who attends First Baptist Church. "It's not conducive to worship.

"I, in no way, want my church sitting next to a bar, I think it's completely inappropriate."

Alcohol being served at restaurants that serve food is fine, she said.

"But, bars draw crime; bars make crime," she said, citing statistics from The Urban Institute and Indiana University.

"Our ordinance the way it's set up already allows for restaurants with alcohol in them, if I read it correctly," she said.

After Scott Stanley voted "yes," Griffin said to him, "I wondered how you were going to vote."

People who knew Cyndy Stanley is councilman Stanley's wife all laughed.

City Planning Director Jim Polatty said Wednesday it would put the downtown on an equal footing with businesses on U.S. 27, that don't have to deal with it.

City Clerk Kathy Haley said Wednesday she learned about the amendment when she put out her agenda packages. She is opposed to the amendment, adding the churches and schools should be respected.

"It is my opinion that anyone that is affected by this ordinance (including the churches and middle school) should have been notified by mail," she said, although there is no requirement to do so.