Board previews ordinance to limit liquor stores to four and require 2,500‑foot spacing

Sweetwater leaders discussed a draft ordinance to limit liquor stores in the city, with staff describing the current draft as allowing no more than four stores and including a 2,500‑foot separation requirement between licenses. The board previewed the proposal in workshop and agreed to add it to the July meeting agenda for consideration.

During discussion, board members compared approaches other jurisdictions use — distance‑based limits, population‑ratio limits, or no numerical cap — and noted that the statute requires enough outlets to meet local demand. Staff said the current Sweetwater population (~6,500) already supports four stores and that all existing stores would comply with a 2,500‑foot spacing requirement. One member said he had previously encouraged smaller downtown liquor licenses but described the business as one that often opens without thorough local market research.

The discussion did not include a formal vote. The board asked staff to keep the draft on the July agenda for ordinance consideration and potential public comment, and to surface any legal constraints the state places on numerical limits.