Council approves rezoning ordinance

Brinley Brothers Inc. is one step closer to becoming a downtown lounge.

The city council approved an ordinance Tuesday to rezone the property from central business district to general business, putting the business in step to apply for a lounge license.

The next step would be for the business to complete necessary inspections and background checks, said city clerk Bob Leyde.

"I really think the city will benefit from this," said Jason Brinley, owner of Brinley Brothers.

The council voted 5-1, with President Leland Howard voting against the ordinance.

Howard voted against the measure at the previous council meeting, as did Councilman Sam Pendleton.

"I was opposed to it mainly because I do not think that it gives a good presentation to the city to have bars and lounges on the main streets of the city downtown," he said.

Brinley said is not changing anything about his business.

He said the way the business looks on the outside and the way it operates on the inside would stay the same.

"We're not trying to be a club or anything like that," Brinley said. "We're not going to be plastering neon beer signs outside the building or having foam parties inside."

Operating as a lounge would allow Brinley Brothers to relax the 51/49 city rule that stipulates businesses that sell food and alcohol must take in more receipts from food sales than from alcoholic beverage sales.

Florence resident John Rusevlyan spoke in favor of the rezoning, saying that the city should take advantage of the resources it has downtown.

He said that successful downtowns offer a blend of housing, work opportunities and entertainment.

"(It's) a competitive advantage that the mall and big box areas do not offer," he said.

Councilwoman Angie Pickens cited the 2005 Stamats Inc. study that noted students at the University of North Alabama wanted venues like this in the city.

"I would love to see things like this for UNA people to hang out in and go listen to music," she said. "I'd like to be able to drive into the town and see purple and gold everywhere."

In other business, the council: