NEW ORLEANS – French Quarter activists, neighborhood groups and resident organizations must be feeling drunk with relief – New Orleans City Councilwoman Nadine Ramsey said she was going to withdraw 3 of 4 of her controversial amendments to the comprehensive zoning ordinance (CZO) that would have loosened restrictions on venues who want to sell alcohol and present live entertainment.
Jaquetta White with The New Orleans Advocate reports Ramsey’s amendments came under fire when nearly two dozen neighborhood organizations challenged the proposals stating they would lead to negative quality of life issues in their communities.
The amendments in question? They would have allowed restaurants all over the city to sell packaged liquor and would have allowed live entertainment in all French Quarter restaurants and courtyards, according to White.
They would have let outlets selling liquor to dismiss the requirement that they show how close they are to churches and schools. And there was a plan to remove a maximum square footage requirement for a holding bar, a place where patrons can grab a drink at a bar before they are seated for a meal, according to White.
White reports the amendments appear on Thursday’s City Council agenda as NMR-12, NMR-14 and NMR-17.
According to White, Ramsey withdrew her proposals so that her staff could have more time to review them.
Even though Ramsey will get the opportunity to reintroduce the controversial measures, White reports Ramsey said it won’t be her top priority.
White also reports Ramsey is not withdrawing an amendment that deals with the definition of a standard restaurant. Ramsey’s proposal calls for the deletion of a phrase stating that the offering of alcoholic beverages must be “incidental” to the serving of food.
Opponents fear this would allow restaurants to turn into bars, White reports.
