Board delays liquor case until June 11

A request for a conditional use permit to operate a retail package liquor store has been continued after one community member said the meeting time was inconvenient for many who had in an interest in the case.

At the Jefferson City Board of Adjustment meeting Tuesday morning, members voted to continue the case before it even was opened.

The case concerns a conditional use permit for a retail package liquor store at 1931 W. Main St., a property owned by Jigneshkumar Patel in a C-1 neighborhood commercial zoning district near the intersection of Dix Road and West Main.

Before board members had a chance to announce the case, Douglas Blaha stood up and asked if it would be possible to change the meeting time to some time in the evening as many concerned with the request were unable to attend a meeting at 7:30 a.m.

"This affects a lot of families," Blaha said.

About 20 people were present at the meeting, plus five members of the City Council: 2nd Ward Councilman Shawn Schulte, 2nd Ward Councilman Rick Mihalevich, 3rd Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner, 4th Ward Councilman Ken Hussey and 4th Ward Councilman Carlos Graham, who also acts as council liaison for the Board of Adjustment.

The board almost immediately voted to continue the case and began a discussion as to when the next meeting would be held. Senior planner Eric Barron said the move by the board was unusual and expressed concerns about setting a precedent for future cases.

"This is extremely out of the ordinary," Barron said.

Board member Paul Graham, who made the motion for a continuance, said the case Tuesday was unique, but the scheduling issue for those in the community was not.

"The inconvenience we heard about today exists for every person in the community," Graham said. "These people, after we have acted, have to live with these decisions."

After substantial discussion as to what time to hold the next meeting, the board ultimately voted to keep its regularly scheduled meeting time and date of 7:30 a.m. June 11.

"Those who are concerned enough will be here," said Wilma Partee, board chair.