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Planning Commission recommends council approve liquor permit for Jonna's 2 Go

March 27, 2013

A parking ordinance to help local businesses receive more parking downtown, along with a unanimous recommendation for council to allow Jonna’s 2 Go’s East Lansing location to sell liquor, were discussed at the Planning Commission Wednesday at City Hall.

To recommend passage of the special use permit for Jonna’s 2 Go’s East Lansing location to sell liquor in addition to its current wine and beer selection, there were 10 conditions the committee wanted the business to comply with.

Owner E.J. Jonna said the business already is in compliance with all the requirements, which included quality maintenance practices for Jonna’s and specified hours of business.

One concern raised by the commission was the combination of a catering food service and alcohol sales and whether that would mean patrons could order alcohol to be delivered, a concern Jonna said never will come to fruition.

Commissioner Stephen Wooden compared El Azteco to Jonna’s 2 Go, citing how it is a similar example of how the special use permit has been working well.

“El Azteco applied for a take-out license similar to this where someone could order out food, pick it up, but still go in the store and physically carry out alcohol themselves,” commissioner Stephen Wooden said. “Although it is a restaurant, (the permit) passed.”

Another concern raised regarding the business was the catering aspect, something Jonna clarified during the meeting.

“We are not a full-scale catering where we are going to do a wedding,” Jonna said. “We do a lot of graduation parties; we bring the chicken, we bring the ribs, salads and six-foot subs.”

The parking ordinance discussed at the meeting would allow businesses to allot off-site parking not provided by the city.

Residents at the meeting shared an overall support for the plan, although some raised concerns about a section of the proposal that would require city residents and property owners have shrubbery and fencing around their homes. The proposal is aimed at improving the appearance of the downtown area.

“It’s not feasible to put planters and trees and fences on a site line where I don’t have room to do it,” owner of Hudgins Reality Jeff Hudgins said. “I’m not against the whole ordinance, there are just parts of it that are not right.”

The proposed ordinance was moved by Planning Commission Vice-Chair Julie Jones-Fisk to hold a work session April 10 and reconvene April 24 to continue discussion and make a final motion on the ordinance.

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