Votes On Alcohol Sales Delayed
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
(Photo By Bobby Ardoin)
Proposed ordinances that would accept commercial zoning variances for a drive-thru daiquiri shop on North Main Street and a bar, lounge and grill located off the Interstate-49 service road south of Opelousas were delayed following lengthy Board of Aldermen discussions on Tuesday night.
The Board however accepted a zoning request to locate a hair and nail salon on South Academy Street after much shorter deliberation.
Refusal by the Board to adopt zoning changes for the Landkor Inc’s operated daiquiri business and the Motel 6 on the service road came after city code enforcement director Lance Ned explained separate potential issues associated with each establishment.
Dairiqui Shop
Ned pointed out that the drive-thru, which Ned said would be located at a former Main Street branch bank location, was approved by the Opelousas Planning Commission.
Alderwoman Delita Broussard said the matter should be postponed since there was discussion that questioned whether the daiquiri location is too close to the St. Landry Catholic Church or another church located nearby on Prudhomme Lane in violation of a citywide ordinance.
Ned added that there were no objections from any of the residents or commercial owners whose businesses are located near the proposed drive thru.
No one representing the daiquiri shop spoke at the meeting.
Motel 6
It was a different situation for the Motel 6 request.
Ned told the Board that the request by the motel to operate a bar and lounge was denied by the Planning Commission due to what Ned said are safety reasons.
Matthew Scott said he plans to operate the motel lounge and bar in addition to serving grilled food six nights a week including weekends when the establishment would open until 2 am.
Scott said the motel plans to hire security to patrol the outside of the business.
Board attorney Travis Broussard said the zoning request by the motel does not indicate the business plans to also sell food during the operating hours.
Broussard told Scott the zoning application should also include the intention of the motel to sell food and that the Commission needed to consider the food sales when the matter is brought back to the Board.
Brent LeBlanc, who owns an adjacent vehicle dealership, told the Board that he is opposed to allowing the request from the motel to obtain the variance.
Nails And Hair
The Board unanimously approved the Sister to Sister Nails & More to locate a shop at 410 South Academy.
Representatives from the shop attended the meeting and answered questions from the Board.
