The Pella City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to require special use permits for all new bars and taverns in Pella at their meeting this week.
City Administrator Mike Nardini tells KNIA/KRLS News the purpose of the ordinance to ensure any new establishments that primarily sell alcohol for consumption fit into any commercial zone they may be moved to. Currently, bars and taverns are allowed by right outside of the central business district.
“When you look at our community, in particular our commercial zoning districts, we often times have mixtures of residential property, commercial property, and so on, throughout our community,” Nardini says. “When you talk about opening up a new bar or tavern, that could impact adjacent properties or have some impact.”
“So we feel that bars or taverns are a good category for requiring a special use permit in those cases. The whole point of the special use permit is to help us ensure we have land use compatibility with the surrounding area.”
In the downtown zoning, a special use permit is required for those establishments, which are being used by the Cellar Peanut Pub and Wijn House. The Funk Lounge on Oskaloosa Street will be grandfathered in to a special use permit under the new law, if it is adopted. The city’s Board of Adjustment handles all special use permit requests, and holds public hearings for all neighbors to attend, as well as the community, to help determine if the new establishment would fit into an area beyond the city’s established zoning laws and regulations.
Two more readings are required for approval, the next of which will take place at the September 4th meeting. Hear more about the latest from the Pella City Council on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.