By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – A liquor license for a proposed ballroom for downtown Bloomington has been given a second chance, but there’s one strike against it that could keep it from ever getting one.
City manager David Hales told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin the city’s downtown master plan sets specifics areas for liquor licenses and 113 E. Monroe St. is not included, yet that somehow was overlooked by the liquor commission.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Hales on WJBC.
“Apparently (the Community Development Department) was not asked to provide any input, so we included it for the council’s review, but that’s one of the reasons the council sent it back, to help ensure the liquor commissioner considers the downtown master plan,” Hales said.
The city’s lone liquor commissioner now is mayor Tari Renner and he’s currently in Cuba. Two commissioners who recommended approval for the Extravaganza Ballroom, Sue Feldkamp and Jim Jordan, aren’t on the panel anymore.
Hales suggested the master plan should be followed.
“We are going to try to fix that going forward, amend the ordinance to make sure the planners do review the comprehensive plan, the downtown master plan and any other plan that may have bearing on the siting of any liquor establishment,” Hales said.
The master plan designates the 500 and 600 block of North Main and Front Street as downtown’s tavern districts.
The proposal for an events liquor licence was initially rejected by the city council over concerns about parking and questions about who the principal owners of the property are.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
