Frisco repeals all distance, separation requirements for alcoholic beverage sales in certain zones

Frisco restaurants, brewpubs, clubs and other establishments selling alcoholic drinks now have looser proximity restrictions.

City Council members, who met virtually Feb. 2 in what Mayor Jeff Cheney said was a first for the group, voted to repeal distance and separation requirements for alcoholic beverage sales in certain zoning districts. The sale of alcoholic beverages traditionally had minimum distance or separation requirements away from churches, private and public schools, public hospitals, daycare centers and child-care facilities, according to city documents.

Frisco City Council, however, has in recent years approved three exceptions to this policy to reduce or eliminate distance and separation requirements, according to the city. City staff coordinated with the police department to review statistics and reports on alcohol sales in these cases and found no issues.

Council member Bill Woodard expressed support for the policy rollback in order to eliminate unneeded steps for business owners.

“It makes it more straightforward with landowners,” Woodard said. “As mentioned in our staff report, you’ve had no known issues with any of the existing uses that are located next to schools.”

One potential concern Frisco police had, according to the city, involved high schools due to the student age group and the possibility students might be able to inappropriately access facilities that sell alcoholic beverages. No statistics or reports were found by police regarding this, according to the city.

Alcoholic beverage sales still require proper zoning districts, according to the city. An example written in city documents states if a property next to a public school is zoned residential, a convenience store selling alcohol could not operate adjacent to the school, as the zoning does not permit the use.

These amendments on alcohol sales have nothing to do with liquor stores, according to the city.