Thursday, January 31, 2008
If downtown business owners get their way, students may be allowed to take their beers outside their favorite bars on Massachusetts Street.
City staff members are looking into revising an ordinance that prohibits downtown drinking establishments from serving alcohol outside without a sidewalk dining license.
Under an ordinance, which was enacted in 1993, in order for an establishment to be eligible for a sidewalk dining license, it must show that at least 70 percent of its sales come from food or non-alcoholic beverages.
Many downtown business owners, including Peach Model, owner of The Sandbar, said the 70 percent food sales requirement is next to impossible for most downtown drinking establishments to meet.
“The size of our restaurant makes it hard to comply with the food sales requirement,” Model said at last week’s city commission meeting. “We have a really great design in mind for a front patio, but we can’t meet the requirements for it to be legal.”
City staff members are analyzing a number of possibilities, including lowering the food sales requirement, exempting existing businesses from the requirement or simply eliminating the requirement.
pullquote
We have to cap off the number of people who come into the bar at a number much lower than our occupancy or else we’ll risk making too much money from alcohol.
-Brent Piepergerdes, owner of Henry’s on Eighth Street
Most commissioners at last Tuesday’s city commission meeting seemed to favor dropping the food sales requirement to 55 percent.
A 55 percent food sales requirement is already what downtown businesses need in order to serve any alcohol, unless the establishment existed before the ordinance was passed in 1994.
As city commissioner Mike Amyx said at last Tuesday’s meeting, most drinking establishments were having trouble meeting that requirement as well.
In other words, lowering the food sales requirement to 55 percent does little or nothing to help downtown bar owners who want outside dining.
In fact, many downtown business owners such as Brent Piepergerdes, owner of Henry’s on Eighth Street, said they wanted big revisions to that ordinance as well.
Requiring a business to make sure 55 percent of its sales come from food puts an artificial cap on the amount a business is allowed to collect all together, said Piepergerdes.
“We have to cap off the number of people who come into the bar at a number much lower than our occupancy or else we’ll risk making too much money from alcohol,” he said. “Someone who’s likely to buy two or three beers upstairs is unlikely to buy two or three mochas downstairs to offset the income from the beers.”
According to city manager David Corliss, the commission enacted the ordinance because it was afraid more bars would open than what was best for the city.
Piepergerdes said he thought the best action would be to allow a one-time exemption of every business on Massachusetts street from the ordinance— a strategy that was used when city commissioners first enacted the ordinance in 1994.
City planners are reviewing the two ordinances and looking at any possible revisions—a process that city communications manager Lisa Patterson said could take several weeks.
—Edited by Nick Mangiaracina
New city law allows alcohol outside
City commissioners passed a law on Tuesday that allows patrons of Lawrence ...
Changes to smoking ban could affect local ...
State law will ban smoking within 10 feet of doorways and windows.
Amyx suggests jail time to curb violence
Mayor wants there to be a ban on guns not just in ...
Local bars now building patios
The city commission recently approved a new patio for the Jackpot Music ...
Weapons ordinance passed, commissioners doubt its effectiveness
Crime prompts discussion on regulating Lawrence bars
Incidents at bars such as Last Call have caused Lawrence city commission ...
City debates new business ordinance
Commissioner Mike Amyx proposed a disorderly business ordinance in order to improve ...
Drinking in the streets
Commission bans guns in bars
The city of Lawrence will start cracking down on anyone who brings ...
City commission? What?
Within the last six years, the Lawrence city commission banned three unrelated ...
Downtown retail competes with new restaurants
In the past year, five stores closed and were replaced with eateries ...
Compliance checks help curb alcohol violations
The Lawrence Police Department has been using random compliance checks in order ...
Group lobbies for strict trash ordinance
Overland Park’s trash ordinance could serve as an example for Lawrence.
Downtown construction plans take form
Downtown businesses on Massachusetts Street from 11th to Ninth streets prepare for ...
Lawrence prohibits glassware downtown during tournament
Police call the temporary ordinance a safety precaution.
Editorial: Students win in food cart decision
Despite some opposition, students gained permission to operate food stand.
Liquor laws expand in towns across state
Cities across Kansas amended liquor laws last week. Mulvane will allow sales ...
Local bars adjust sales tactics
As alcohol sales decline with the economy, bars must develop new strategies ...
Closing organic market offered to The Merc
Owner’s of the closing organic market look to sell their downtown location.
Expanding alcohol sales to retail stores sparks ...
Liquor store owners say House Bill 2532 will hurt small businesses.
Downtown meters will allow quick shopping
City commissioners voted 4-1 to approve 15-minute meters in each block of ...
No more smoking in the boys room
Business closes because of disagreements between tenants and building owners.
Editorial: Fine hurts downtown employers
New $50 parking fine means downtown businesses need to better help employers ...
Lawrence public transit system saved
Voters overwhelmingly approve sales taxes to keep buses running after months of ...
Local businesses prepare for Final Four
Jayhawk apparel sales are skyrocketing and bars are preparing for a crowd ...
Lawrence's vice mayor criticizes new snow ordinance
Amyx said he didn’t think it was a good way to run ...
City approves students' downtown hot dog stand
Two students will open a food cart on Mass this August.
City Commission candidates speak out
Lawrence City Commission hopefuls talk about their opinions on the transit systems, ...
City provides free shuttle to football games
With many parking spots near the stadium eliminated, attendees have a transportation ...
Oread Inn closer to materializing
Public will be able to comment on official plan in a future ...
Commission votes to draft ordinance
Summer student exodus strains local businesses
The University’s 24,000-person population comprises a quarter of Lawrence’s residents.
Three KU freshmen open their own shop
The new smoking-lounge business will open today and is being run by ...
Pedicabs cleared for takeoff
City ordinance approves pedicabs, which will taxi patrons around downtown Lawrence.
Ordinance has unclear effects on downtown
City looks to increase “pull factor”
The movement comes from a report that stated the city’s retail spending ...
16-person bike cruises Lawrence
Lawrence is fifth town in U.S. to get a $32,000 Pedal Hopper.
Local bars show support for LGBT community
Teller’s becomes the newest business to host a weekly ‘Family Night’
Bars’ owner contests ban
Lawrence's landlord: a developer's story
Doug Compton, owner of First Management, has helped guide Lawrence's development for ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID