TYLER, TX (KLTV) -
The City of Tyler is moving forward with beer and wine sales.
On Tuesday, Tyler City Council passed three ordinances to help regulate the upcoming alcohol sales within the city.
"We took a very strong approach and we implemented or established ordinances that did address you know, traffic congestions, aesthetics and the look and feel for our community," said Heather Nick, Tyler's City Planner.
One of those ordinances established that the sale of alcoholic beverages must be at least 300 feet away from churches, schools, public hospitals, day-care centers or child-care facilities.
However, under Texas law, if the City Council receives a request from a private school, then the Council could extend the distance 1,000 feet.
When it comes to signs and banners related to the sale of beer and wine, the Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission said there are restrictions for those too.
"They're allowed one sign and the lettering can be no more than 12 inches in height on those," said TABC Sergeant Marcus Stokke.
However, he said if a store is located on a corner lot, then the business is allowed two signs. There are also restrictions when it comes to putting signs advertising beer or wine in store windows. According to officials with the Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission, signs within stores must be at least five feet away from windows.
A second ordinance adopted zoning regulations to determine where beer barns, or drive-through alcohol retail service areas, can be located. The City Council voted to have those types of businesses in M-2 General Industrial Districts. Those drive-through businesses must also be issued a special use permit.
Lastly, the City Council amended the Unified Development Code, by clarifying that the existing fee for Zoning Changes will also apply to the administrative costs associated with beer and wine on-site inspection verification, and other types of on-site zoning inspection verification.
So, how do you actually get a permit? You can download one by clicking here.
Once you receive a TABC application, it goes to the City of Tyler Clerk's office who will submit it to the county for review. Then, it goes to the State Comptroller who signs off on it and hands it back over to TABC for approval. To learn more about each of these steps, click here.
"We will call the applicant to come back and get the application. They'll take it to the County Judge and if no one has protested it, he'll sign off on it and it will get sent to Austin and that process from the time we get the completed application is about 40 days," Stokke said.
Tyler City Council is scheduled to canvass votes on Monday, November 19. After the votes are canvassed, businesses can start sending in their applications.
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