By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer, Elmore Autauga News
The Prattville City Council Tuesday night tabled until the next meeting an application to open a liquor store and tobacco outlet in the city’s historic downtown area. The City Council Chamber was full as business owners and residents voiced their opposition to the resolution.
The resolution would have given the green light to Jack’s Liquor and Tobacco to open a package store at 402-A Washington Street in the Daniel Pratt Historic District. District 6 City Council Member Richard Strichik made the motion to table the vote. The resolution was sponsored by District 4 City Council Member Jerry Starnes.
“Being a capitalist, I am all for small business,” Strichik said, “But I have listened to the voices of our citizens and request we table this vote for two weeks.” When asked why he made the motion to table the vote until the June 16th meeting, he said he wanted to get more information from merchants and constituents.
The proposed store is in a small shopping center anchored by a Texaco gas station. The convenience store has held an off-premises beer and wine liquor license under previous ownership and the package store will have access from inside the convenience store and an entry on First Street.
Danny Loftin’s business, Fat Boy’s Barbeque, sits behind the building where the liquor and tobacco store is proposed. He is afraid the venture would bring additional traffic to the area. Not only is public safety threatened, he says, but also the complex makeup of the city’s historic district.
Economic developer Jim Searcy moved back to Prattville with his wife Lesley two years ago after growing up here in the 1970s. Searcy said he returned home because Prattville is a special place and he wants to keep it that way. He said he is concerned with the proposed liquor store’s proximity to the City Library, the Splash Pad and the park, all areas that attract children.
“In my line of work, I deal with development projects,” he said. He said he always asks, “Is it the highest and best use of this property?” He said in this case the answer is no.
Thea Langley is the owner of Fountain City Counseling and is a downtown resident. She said she is concerned for the safety and well-being of the city’s downtown residents, shoppers and merchants if the liquor license is approved. She said the store would be along a walking path designated by the City.
“I am opposed to there being a liquor store that would be in the middle of an area where 100-150 people walk every day,” Langley said. “You see strollers, you see toddlers breaking away from their parents. We need to say no for the health, safety and well-being of our families.”
Gerald Cimmons gave some history about how the downtown district was created to provide a unique draw of restaurants and specialty shops. “I would not consider a liquor store to be a one of a kind retail store,” he said. “Putting this in a historic district will fit like a sock on a rooster.”
Some residents expressed concern about the location being closed to Stanley Jensen Stadium as well as the Creek Walk and picnic areas. “People will use this convenient location to buy convenient amounts of alcohol that they can conceal and consume,” one worried resident said.
The packed Chamber was the City’s first real test of its social distancing abilities as most Council meetings have not been nearly as full. Those seated were mostly six feet apart with a few exceptions even though the meeting drew a crowd.
“This was probably the most civil public hearing on a hot topic since I’ve been here,” said District 5 City Council Member Richard Cables. “It was important to hear from each and every one of you.”
