Alcohol in the news; Liquor-license applications irk Urbana residents

from the news-gazette

Liquor-license applications irk Urbana residents

URBANA — Two new convenient stores proposed for the Philo Road business district are seeking liquor licenses, and nearby residents and business owners are less than thrilled.

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Urbana's liquor ordinance does limit the amount of licenses that can be issued based on the city's population. But in January the council, on Mayor Laurel Prussing's recommendation, approved a change to the population limit for Class C liquor licenses. The move allowed for more Class C liquor licenses to be permitted in the city, increasing it from 11 to 27. A Class C license allows a business to sell packaged beer, wine and hard liquor to be consumed off the property.

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The two convenient stores that have applied for Class C liquor licenses are Q-Mart, proposed for 2005 Philo Road, and The Short-Stop, proposed for 1720 S. Philo Road. Both applications are pending, said Prussing, who is also the city's liquor commissioner.

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"If you're concerned about crime in that area, I don't think it's coming from the liquor stores, but the apartments. We're working with an apartment owner to get him to have a plan for dealing with some of his tenants," Prussing said.

It's not the liquor, it's the people who drink it.

Michelson and other members of the neighborhood safety task force will take up the topic of crime and liquor stores at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the second floor conference room at city hall, 400 S. Vine St. It is open to the public.