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Wednesday, March 5, 2008
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By
Bill Pike bpike@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal |
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Some
Preston Highway
residents and officials
were leery following
recent state approval of
a license for a liquor
store on Preston
Highway. They were leery
because a previous
liquor store there
caused problems for
years. The Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control board last month approved a liquor license for a store that Roger Beets Jr. plans at 3318 Preston Highway, opposite Audubon Park. The decision reversed an earlier denial of Beets' license application by Louisville Metro Inspections, Permits and Licenses. Beets' plans stirred some opposition because the previous store on the property -- Fairgrounds Liquors -- led to problems such as loitering, drunkenness and littering. That store, which had operated for more than 50 years, closed a year ago. Opponents of Beets' plans feared the problems would return if he opened a liquor store there. They were especially concerned because metro officials and residents have been working together to improve the appearance of the Preston corridor. Beets said he cleaned up the liquor-store property and took other measures to see that problems don't return. He said he would not have spent $500,000 buying and improving the property if he didn't intend to run it right. Metro Councilman Jim King said the state board's decision was disappointing and wrong. King, who represents District 10, said he wants to work with Beets to make the store a positive force. Liz Martin and others opposed to Beets' plans live in King's district, which is east of Preston. "We hope he will operate the store as he should," Martin said. "We hope he will be a good business neighbor." As president of the Belmar Neighborhood Association and a member of the group that's beautifying Preston, Martin helped lead opposition to the store. Audubon Park Mayor Mike Scalise said the city "had to do some policing" to deal with problems the earlier store caused. He also said he's confident "the new ownership will run the store a little differently." Beets repaved and restriped the store's parking lot and painted the building inside and out. He installed a chain-link fence across the rear of the property, new heating and air conditioning and a surveillance system. Bill Schreck, director of Inspections, Permits and Licenses, denied Beets' application in September because, his ruling said, some residents were opposed and the area already had adequate liquor stores. Beets appealed to the state ABC, which overturned Schreck's decision. The board said Schreck should not have considered residents' objections because they were not submitted in writing within 30 days of publication of the application's legal ad. The board's order also found "insufficient evidence" that existing liquor stores adequately serve the area. The liquor stores nearest Beets' property are Liquor World on Eastern Parkway, which is 1.1 miles away, and Our Place Liquors, on Poplar Level Road, which is 3.1 miles away, according to the order. The board also said Beets should not be blamed for problems caused by a previous owner of his property. Reporter Bill Pike can be reached at (502) 582-4243. |
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