Committee approves two alcohol exceptions — neighborhood owner raises public-safety and small-business concerns

At the Jan. 21 Land Use & Zoning Committee meeting, members approved two separate zoning exceptions related to alcohol sales.

The first, Ordinance 2025888, would allow on-premise sale and service of all alcoholic beverages at a proposed boutique grocery and tasting-room (the Creative Cook) on Mayport Road at Villas Drive. Cindy Trimmer, speaking for the applicant, said the owners — chef-operators — intend to restore the long-vacant Terry's Country Store site as a neighborhood grocer with a butcher and a tasting/event space. Councilmembers who spoke in favor cited the site's corridor context and neighborhood amenity potential; the committee approved the exception.

The second, Ordinance 2025889 (with companion waiver WLD 25-16), would allow an off-premise package-store (including a drive-through) at a 0.6-acre parcel at Blanding Boulevard and Confederate Point Road and reduce the minimum liquor-distance to Liberty Christian Fellowship Ministries from 500 feet to 178 feet. Applicant Josh Cockrell said the parcel historically housed a liquor store/drive-through and that nearby parcels already include alcohol-serving uses. Planning staff noted the waiver was unanimously approved by the planning commission on Jan. 8.

Opposition: Charnette (Churnet) Haber, a local convenience-store owner, opposed the package-store application, telling the council that placing a liquor outlet near a church and residences could change neighborhood character, invite late-night activity or loitering, and threaten small, family-owned businesses that rely on pedestrian and local customers. She asked the committee to weigh public-safety and quality-of-life concerns.

Applicant response and staff explanation: The applicant and planning staff said the proposed package-store would operate both drive-through and parking-based access and had updated site plans addressing traffic flow; staff also explained that liquor-distance waivers are tied to a specific license holder and that new owners or uses generally must satisfy waiver criteria again if the license changes.

Outcome and next steps: The committee approved both the on-premise and off-premise exceptions as presented; staff and applicants must now follow licensing and permitting processes. The transcript contains the clerk's vote notations as read aloud (reproduced verbatim in committee record), which the article reproduces rather than re-parse for numeric certainty.