On Tuesday, the Borough Assembly voted to introduce and set a public hearing for an ordinance that could decrease the amount of space needed between alcohol establishments and certain public spaces.
The ordinance would shorten the borough’s code for distances between alcohol establishments and churches or schools from 500 feet to 300 feet, along with change the way that distance is measured.
Ninilchik resident Debbie Carey testified against the idea, saying even though she is co-owner of an alcohol establishment the borough should consider the ongoing process to regulate marijuana.
Carey: “The suggested proximity for marijuana outlets will be 500 feet from a school, church, or youth facility. The Kenai Peninsula Borough already mirrors that with the alcohol proximity laws, so why change if you’re concerned with simplifying measurements?”
Assemblyman Dale Bagley says he brought the ordinance forward because only three municipalities statewide, including this borough, have a longer buffer than the 200 foot one included in state statutes.
Asm. Bagley: “We need to have this discussion so that if we’re saying no to somebody who’s coming before us, a more recent assembly has agreed to 1000 feet, we agree to 500 feet, we agree to 300 feet. The other question is the way it’s measured and even if we stay at the 500 feet, I’d like to see us measure the way that the [Alcoholic Beverage Control] Board measures.”
Assembly members voted 8-1 in favor of introducing the ordinance and there will be a public hearing on it at the December 8 assembly meeting.