Crystal Considers Ordinance Change To Cap Tobacco, Liquor Licenses
The Crystal City Council has taken steps toward approving a cap on the number of liquor and tobacco stores in the city.
The city council approved the first reading of an ordinance change that would set a maximum number of off-sale liquor and tobacco licenses that could be issued in the city.
Officials say the Crystal has one of the highest concentrations of tobacco licenses in Hennepin County.
“One of the differences between Crystal and some of the other surrounding cities is we have a lot of specifically tobacco shops, not just tobacco retailers, such as gas stations, convenience stores, but actual dedicated tobacco shops,” explained Crystal City Manager Adam Bell at the March 18 city council meeting.
According to Crystal city officials, the city has nine stores with off-sale liquor licenses. For tobacco, that number is 20.
Under the ordinance proposed, the city would set the maximum number of off-sale liquor licenses at four and the number of tobacco licenses at 10.
Stores with existing licenses would be grandfathered in. However, no new licenses would be issues.
For tobacco shops or liquor stores that either close or have their licenses revoked, the city would not try to replace them with a similar business. Bell said there are three or four standalone tobacco shops in the city, which include vape shops.
“We’d like to have fewer liquor stores, fewer tobacco shops, but we really haven’t had an opportunity to really give us a method or purpose to be able to limit liquor stores or tobacco shops until now,” said Crystal City Council Member John Budziszewski.
“There’s a lot businesses or a lot buildings that are liquor stores that could other really cool businesses that Crystal doesn’t have,” said Crystal City Council Member David Cummings.
The Crystal City Council is expected to give final approval of the proposed ordinance change at its next meeting April 1.
Proposed ordinance at March 18 Crystal City Council meeting
Also See: Crystal Partners with Senior Community Services to Help More Seniors Stay in Their Homes
