Village East Neighborhood

GRANTING OF CITY OF AURORA LIQUOR AUTHORITY LICENSES

Aug 29, 2006

Liquor licenses are granted based solely on petitions that are circulated to residents in the area and a background check on the business.

The Liquor Authority operates separately from the Planning Department. They may grant a liquor license to a business to serve alcohol after the hour of midnight even though the business has not obtained a required use approval from the Planning Department to remain open after midnight. This occurred at the meeting VENA attended.

VENA, along with several other nearby neighborhood groups, has made the City aware of this inconsistency and the lack of one agency knowing and abiding by the requirements of another. Code Enforcement has also been made aware of potential violations of city code by several businesses remaining open past midnight without the proper use approval.

Please keep these issues in mind if you are asked to sign a petition for a business requesting a liquor license. Also be aware that you may sign a petition indicating that you are opposed to granting a liquor license. Thank you.

The Eastridge Civic Association requested information from Ward IV City Council Member Molly Markert on the liquor license process and the Liquor Authority. Not knowing the answers to their questions, she consulted with Dave Lathers in the City Attorney's Office. She soon learned that the process is somewhat complex and differs considerably from the Planning and Zoning process that many neighborhood and homeowners associations are familiar with. As a result, "Understanding the Liquor Licensing Process, A Brochure for Citizens" was written by Dave Lathers with input from several of Council Member Markert's constituents.