Council rejects exception to 300‑foot alcohol buffer near daycare

The El Paso City Council voted down a request to waive the local prohibition on alcohol sales within 300 feet of certain protected uses. Planning staff explained the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code and local zoning mirror a 300‑foot buffer measured property‑line to property‑line; the applicant sought a direct council exception after failing to obtain a formal letter of non‑opposition from the adjacent child‑care provider.

Property owners and business representatives said a prior 51% alcohol business had operated in the center for more than a decade with minimal code‑enforcement history. Opponents, including public commenters and council members, raised concerns about parking, trash, day‑time proximity to children and potential DUIs. Marco Sanchez, a public commenter who had earlier signed up on the item, urged the council to “keep in mind the concerns that the community has, especially around Americas High School,” saying the shop’s address is close to school facilities and that the buffer is intended to “protect our youth.”

During the council discussion staff said a children’s development center across the street (Paso Del Norte Children’s Development Center) refused to provide a no‑objection letter; the applicant and property owner noted the convenience store in the same center already sold beer and wine. After a suspension of the rules to allow additional public comment and oral remarks from property owners, the motion to grant the exception failed 3–5 (ayes: Representatives Rocha, Pierrot, Canales; nays: Mayor Pro Tem Chavez, Representatives Acevedo, Piero, Nino and Limon).