On-premise alcohol ordinance should have been easy vote for Council

Written by Marty Carlson

Just about two months ago, Bossier City Council members adopted an ordinance approving the request of Landry's Seafood House to serve high and low alcohol content beverages at Joe's Crab Shack - a Landry's restaurant soon to open in Louisiana Boardwalk.

The measure had previously moved through the Metropolitan Planning Commission, receiving a “favorable” determination by MPC members. On December 7, 2004, City Council members voted unanimously to grant the request as well.

Now, at the same time that this particular agenda item was before the council, MPC executive director Sam Marsiglia explained to council members that he would, in the coming weeks, bring before the council for consideration an ordinance to allow on-premise alcohol consumption as a conditional use in Louisiana Boardwalk. This action would, according to Marsiglia, streamline the process in Louisiana Boardwalk only for any legitimate restaurant or sports bar type venue.

Marsiglia's plan appeared to make sense to council members – not a single one of which registered the first whisper of a concern, question or objection. Frankly, such a measure is sensible all the way around – it saves the time and effort of both the MPC and City Council in reviewing one-by-one these requests, all of which, as planned upscale tenants of Boardwalk, would be approved in any case.

And just as described by Marsiglia, at last Tuesday's council agenda meeting, was listed an ordinance to “amend Ordinance 126 of 2003 to amend the Unified Development Code to allow on-premise consumption of alcohol as a provisional use within the legal boundaries of (the) project located in the RFD, Riverfront District.”

Already having passed muster with the MPC, this ordinance is scheduled for a “first and final” vote at the council's regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

Given the proposal's council reception of eight weeks ago when Marsiglia explained it, council approval of the measure should have been an easy call.

Instead, eight weeks after the process was explained, District 5 council member James Rogers registered his objections beginning with the suggestion that when developers first came to the city with the concept of Boardwalk, it was planned to be a “family oriented” development – ergo, nix the alcohol. Additionally, Rogers suggested that along with alcohol comes video poker machines, and down we go. District 2 Council member Jeff Darby seemed to think the one-by-one application process was preferable, suggesting that denials of some applications could be on the horizon.

For those and the balance of Council members weighing this issue for Tuesday's vote, a little food for thought from an involved and concerned tax-paying, voting citizen ... beginning with the fact that I am offended by last Tuesday's discussion on several levels.

First, the purpose of objective laws versus subjective perspective has been clearly demonstrated for rather a long period of time in this city, state and country. The city's Unified Development Code clearly spells out the requirements and restrictions concerning alcohol sales and on-premise consumption of alcohol. Such levels the playing field and, if adhered to, generally precludes the city from being the subject of costly lawsuits. I submit that I'm not the only citizen cognizant of this fact and since it is likely that all Boardwalk restaurants, sports bars, or other qualifying facilities will meet the UDC requirements, it's bad for business to suggest denial of any of these applications.

And that brings up point two – the city has invested upwards of $40 million in this project as a premier economic development strategy with an expected return of jobs, property taxes, sales taxes, and perhaps even a reinvigoration of old downtown Bossier – bringing more of the same prosperity. As part of this development, upscale national-known restaurants have elected to locate here, and one would reasonable expect Council members to understand that food sales alone do not account for the financial success of these facilities – alcohol sales are a factor in the profit-making revenue stream. While that's a reality, the suggestion that on-premise alcohol sales will lead to video poker is a big leap of logic – and, as just a small example, one might visit several national-chain restaurants in close proximity to Pierre Bossier Mall – none of which feature a single video poker machine — thus discounting that notion.

Finally, and most offensive personally, is this fairly derogatory characterization of those of us who enjoy an alcoholic beverage with our meal, or who would visit an eatery that serves alcohol, as “non-family oriented.” Listening to last Tuesday's discussion had me recalling the 30-minute wait for a table at a Bossier City restaurant a few weeks ago with my family, along with dozens of others, most of whom had children — and this restaurant not only served alcohol - it had a bar right in the middle of the place.

By last Tuesday's inferred definition, I'm not “family-oriented,” but I could order an alcoholic beverage with my meal at a Disney located restaurant.

Any discussion at tomorrow's council meeting on this issue should be confined to the legal aspects of the ordinance to allow on-premise consumption of alcohol as a provisional use within the legal boundaries of the Boardwalk development. While council members certainly have the right to voice personal opinions, the final vote should be based on the legal, economic, and realistic factors related to this proposed ordinance.

Marty Carlson is a columnist for the Bossier Press-Tribune. She also writes for The Forum and Fax-Net Update.