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Session 1909 <br />January 26, 2004 <br /> <br />The request was passed five to two, with Mr. Wagner and Mr. Lieberman voting nay. <br /> <br />A,qenda Item #5 - Packaqe Liquor License at 7900 Olive Boulevard <br /> <br />An application has been filed by Aldi, Inc., to reactivate their license to sell all types of <br />intoxicating liquor by the package at retail at their full service grocery store. All <br />ordinance requirements are met including prior experience with a clean record and <br />demonstrating good character in the police record check. It appears that this <br />application meets all Council standards and policies for issuing such licenses only to <br />large retail establishments where alcoholic beverage sales would not be the primary <br />activity. <br /> <br />Ms. Welsch moved to approve this request and Ms. Colquitt seconded the motion. <br /> <br />Ms. Colquitt asked why Aldi's sought to re-activate a liquor license, and was advised <br />they had held one before, a number of years before. According to information from the <br />Finance Department they held one, but allowed it to lapse, by not renewing it. Mr. <br />Wagner raised a point that at one time the City Council had determined to limit the <br />number of full liquor licenses available in University City, and asked for someone to <br />provide details to refresh his recollection. Mayor Adams said the City Council had <br />decided to limit the number of full-package liquor stores in University City to two in <br />number, but they did not include grocery stores in this limit. He said when stores <br />request such licenses; their actual physical dimensions are taken into consideration for <br />them to be able to request one. Mr. Sharpe said that he was in favour of granting a <br />liquor license to Aldi's, but he questioned why another individual met with so much <br />resistance when he tried to apply for a liquor license. Mayor Adams suggested that it <br />was easier for Aldi's to reinstate their license because they held one successfully <br />before. He said the City Council sought to establish that the liquor license was applied <br />to a business which did exactly what it claimed to do, and not something else. Ms. <br />Welsch said, for the record, that she would vote in favor of this measure because it is a <br />re-activation and because she espouses not giving one store competitive advantage <br />over another. Mr. Lieberman asked if Aldi's intent was to obtain a full-liquor license "by <br />the package" for their current store and if they planned to transfer it to their new store <br />and Mr. Ollendorff responded that this application was for the existing store and did not <br />mention the new store. He is not aware of their intentions for the new store. Mr. <br />Lieberman then pointed out that the ordinance governing liquor stipulated that it must be <br />placed in a distinguishably separate location from the food section. He asked if Aldi's <br />planned to do this, and was advised that no site plan had been submitted for <br />consideration. Mayor Adams suggested that the original site-plan submitted for the <br />original license would probably be re-activated. Mr. Wagner said the ordinance does <br />have a floor-space limitation and asked if that information was known? Mr. Ollendorff <br />said they could not violate the ordinance; it is not asked on the application if they intend <br />to comply. Mayor Adams said they would have to stipulate the space in the site plan, <br />and Mr. Wagner asked Mr. Ollendorff to check this matter in the site plan, which he <br /> Page 8 <br /> <br /> <br />