Planning commission approves Midway Convenience off‑premise beer permit with conditions

The Sandy City Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit allowing Midway Convenience, 9187 South 700 East, to sell off‑premise beer, subject to nine conditions and an amended condition that the business not operate as an alcohol and tobacco specialty store.

Rita Adam, the store owner and applicant, told commissioners she is the sole operator of the store and said she checks identification, uses security cameras and plans a designated area for beer. "I really care about this community and I want to continue working with it," Adam said.

Opposition and staff response: Mark Mason Taylor, a nearby resident, urged commissioners to deny the permit, calling the business a vape shop and saying tobacco and vape product advertising dominates the store. Taylor cited public‑health research and argued the neighborhood already has several vape shops.

Staff and commissioners discussed the city and state rules that differentiate a convenience store from an alcohol and tobacco specialty store. Sarah Stringham and other staff explained that the state requires tobacco‑related stores to keep tobacco sales under a percentage threshold (staff cited a 20% sales/display limit) and that the city may request audits and pursue code enforcement if a business becomes a specialty store. Staff said window signs advertising smoking products must be removed and noted the applicant had removed some window signage after the staff report was issued.

The commission amended condition No. 1 to read that the business "does not operate as an alcohol and tobacco specialty store," and approved the conditional use permit. Commissioners recorded their votes: Cameron Duncan (yes), Ron Mortimer (yes), Danny Schoenfeld (no), Steve Wrigley (yes), Craig Kitterman (no), Jennifer George (yes) and Chair Dave Bromley (yes). The vote passed by majority. Staff said permit conditions and potential inspections or audits would be enforced and that noncompliance could lead to business license revocation and permit revocation procedures.