Bar/Church Ordinance Dies
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(WOLO) RICHLAND COUNTY,S.C., —
It was the only item on the agenda and within 10 minutes it was killed. Councilman Norman Jackson who proposed the amendment says his intention was to address church that opened up in shopping centers, Shopping malls and industrialized zones.
“You have the right to assemble where you choose but, if a certain zone is designed for a certain purposes and a church decides to relocate there, it’s unfair for the developer and for the businesses that are suppose to locate there but can not, because a church is there.”
Jackson says by state law, churches that stand alone would still be protected and bars would have to maintain a buffer of at least 5 hundred feet.
But some in attendance say it’s still unfair to smaller churches who have to start out in store fronts and should not have to be subjected to the influence of alcohol.
Others say it’s the language in the initial ordinance they have issue with, calling it unclear and misleading.
County Council plans to re-work the wording of the ordinance and present it to the planning commission no later than the beginning of next year.
to see the ordinance for yourself, go to:
