Photo of Q’s Bar and Lounge before renovationsFor the second time during the last six months, local business owner John Croom appeared before the city commission at their July 6 meeting, seeking approval to keep his business located in the heart of the Hillside commercial district at MLK Ave & 9th Street opened past the customary closing time.
In his relentless pursuit, Croom first approached the city at their January 5 regular meeting, where the commission instructed the Planning and Zoning board to hold a series of public hearings to vet the concerns of the community before granting approval.
Accompanied by a small entourage at the July 6 meeting, and armed with a petition in which he stated over 200 residents in agreement with his position signed. Croom once again asked the commission to allow him to keep his place of business open until 1:00AM during the week and 2:00AM on the weekend.
In his relentless pursuit, Croom first approached the city at their January 5 regular meeting, where the commission instructed the Planning and Zoning board to hold a series of public hearings to vet the concerns of the community before granting approval.
Accompanied by a small entourage at the July 6 meeting, and armed with a petition in which he stated over 200 residents in agreement with his position signed. Croom once again asked the commission to allow him to keep his place of business open until 1:00AM during the week and 2:00AM on the weekend.
He reasoned that his business suffers significant losses when potential customers patronize other establishments outside of town that stay open past 1:00AM.
However, the city enacted an ordinance in the mid 70’s that prohibits lounges, bars, clubs, and restaurants that serve alcohol to stay open pass 12:00AM during the week and 1:00AM on the weekend.
In addition, the area in question is zoned C2, which allows for both residential and commercial usage. In such mixed-use districts, it’s the intensity and duration of the business activity that affect the lives of the residents the most. When you add businesses that serve alcohol, those establishments have a greater tendency to create alcohol-fueled noise and disorder, which in turn creates disharmony throughout the neighborhood.
Additionally, for a number of years there were no commercial activity in the Hillside commercial district and the area slowly transitioned into a quiet residential neighborhood where a number of the city’s elder population now reside.
During the planning and zoning hearings, Apalachicola Police Chief Bobby Varnes told board members, that the Sheriff Department dispatch had reported receiving 90 calls over a one-year period from neighbors complaining about loud music and late night loitering. With Varnes report, coupled with the overwhelming opposition voiced at the hearings, the planning and zoning board forwarded a recommendation to the city suggesting the commission deny Croom’s request.
However, the city enacted an ordinance in the mid 70’s that prohibits lounges, bars, clubs, and restaurants that serve alcohol to stay open pass 12:00AM during the week and 1:00AM on the weekend.
In addition, the area in question is zoned C2, which allows for both residential and commercial usage. In such mixed-use districts, it’s the intensity and duration of the business activity that affect the lives of the residents the most. When you add businesses that serve alcohol, those establishments have a greater tendency to create alcohol-fueled noise and disorder, which in turn creates disharmony throughout the neighborhood.
Additionally, for a number of years there were no commercial activity in the Hillside commercial district and the area slowly transitioned into a quiet residential neighborhood where a number of the city’s elder population now reside.
During the planning and zoning hearings, Apalachicola Police Chief Bobby Varnes told board members, that the Sheriff Department dispatch had reported receiving 90 calls over a one-year period from neighbors complaining about loud music and late night loitering. With Varnes report, coupled with the overwhelming opposition voiced at the hearings, the planning and zoning board forwarded a recommendation to the city suggesting the commission deny Croom’s request.
Although the city commission accepted the planning board’s recommendation, in his ongoing effort to have the issue readdressed, Croom had the item placed on the city’s July 6 meeting agenda.
At that meeting, Croom told commissioners that the loud music the neighbors complained about didn’t emanate from his business. He stated that teenagers loitering on the street corner outside his establishment with their cars were the sole source of the music.
Croom is not the first lounge owner in the city to request longer hours, in the mid 90’s a prior owner of the building that now house Q’s Bar and Lounge, requested the same and was denied.
Later in the meeting, city attorney Pat Floyd conducted the first public reading of a revamped ordinance that addressed loitering throughout the city.
Once enacted, ordinance number 2010-02 will prohibit loitering in a public place or on public right-of-ways in such a manner as to obstruct or interfere with the free and uninterrupted passage of vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Persons found in violation of the ordinance will be subject to a fine not to exceed $100 dollars for the first offense, and for the second offense, the violator will be subject to a fine of $100 to $200 and or 30 days in jail. For a third offense, the violator will be subject to a fine of $250 to $500 dollars and or 60 days in jail.
At that meeting, Croom told commissioners that the loud music the neighbors complained about didn’t emanate from his business. He stated that teenagers loitering on the street corner outside his establishment with their cars were the sole source of the music.
Croom is not the first lounge owner in the city to request longer hours, in the mid 90’s a prior owner of the building that now house Q’s Bar and Lounge, requested the same and was denied.
Later in the meeting, city attorney Pat Floyd conducted the first public reading of a revamped ordinance that addressed loitering throughout the city.
Once enacted, ordinance number 2010-02 will prohibit loitering in a public place or on public right-of-ways in such a manner as to obstruct or interfere with the free and uninterrupted passage of vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Persons found in violation of the ordinance will be subject to a fine not to exceed $100 dollars for the first offense, and for the second offense, the violator will be subject to a fine of $100 to $200 and or 30 days in jail. For a third offense, the violator will be subject to a fine of $250 to $500 dollars and or 60 days in jail.
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