1/18/13 - The Brighton City Council had hoped to take action Thursday night on approving one of three liquor license applications, but instead finds it will have to delay action and hold a public hearing on the issue. It stems from a misunderstanding as to whether the current city liquor license ordinance applies in the case of a new quota liquor license the city was granted that resulted from a population increase in the last census. It was City Manager Dana Foster's and Police Chief Tom Wightman's understanding that the quota license was a special license not bound by the established rules for approval of other types of liquor licenses. Foster tells WHMI that turned out not to be the case. As a result, the city will have to issue a public notice and set a date for a public hearing on the quota liquor license, at which time anyone in the public may comment for or against the granting of a liquor license. The public hearing will be held during the first meeting of February, on the 7th of the month. City officials say the quota liquor license is very desirable to anyone wishing to be able to sell liquor at his establishment because it only costs $600 compared to the $20,000 cost of a redevelopment liquor license. Two Brothers Coffee owner Jim Starnes had originally applied for a redevelopment license, but later changed it to a quota license application when he heard it was available. A second applicant represents Scotty Simpson's Fish and Chips and Lynn's Cafe, which applied for the license after the city approved the transfer of its liquor license to Stonefire Bistro. Stonefire lost its liquor license last month due to a dispute with the former owner. The application is now under review by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Now a third applicant has come into the picture applying for a liquor license: Kathleen's Cookies. The business is currently located on East Grand River in Brighton Township in the Kroger Store complex. However, Foster says the owner has been negotiating with Leaf, Barley and Vine owner Greg Strause for a possible lease of his property at Grand River and North Street. (JK)
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