Ridgeland board passes liquor store restictions

RIDGELAND — Liquor stores cannot be built within 2,000 feet of each other per an ordinance passed by city officials last week in an attempt to control the density of liquor stores in the city.

Public Works Director Alan Hart said he thinks the recently passed ordinance is the best way forward to address the issue in the long range outlook of the city.

The ordinance passed unanimously in a 7-0 vote from the Board of Aldermen at their regularly scheduled meeting after a public hearing was held earlier this month. 

The ordinance creates definitions for attached and standalone liquor stores and regulates where they can be built in the city.

This includes 2,000 linear feet distance from another free standing liquor store and 400 feet from churches, funeral homes, schools, retirement homes, neighborhood entrances or childcare facilities.

City Planner Jordan Lohman said there are 17 independent liquor stores in the city. While these businesses have been grandfathered in, he said approximately 10 do not meet the space requirement.

If one of those liquor stores was to close, it would need to reopen within six months as a liquor store before its grandfathered status expired.

Lohman noted that there is a process for future stores looking to locate at a non-conforming location to get board approval to open in the city.

The ordinance also marked the end of a moratorium on liquor stores the city board had put into place during the legislative session. The moratorium had been renewed once and started in the spring.

Mayor Gene McGee noted that the legislature passed legislation this session allowing for the ordinance. He said the legislation gave them “reasonable zoning control” over liquor stores that they did not have before to ensure that they did not become “overpopulated” by that particular use.

McGee said State Rep. Jonathan McMillan (R) of House District 58 was instrumental in getting this legislation passed.

“Previously, state law did not allow the cities to regulate where to put liquor stores,” McMillan said.

The bill is House Bill 776 which was approved by Gov. Tate Reeves on May 8. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Jerry Turner (R) and Rep. Jeffrey Hulum (D). On July 1 the law went into effect.

McMillan said he knew this law would have an impact in his district and would also “help the entire state.”