Mr. Steak Needs Approval To Lift Spirits
Mr. Steak wants to put spirits on the table.
But the business is too close to the Lincoln Way Church of God.
So restaurant owner Charlie Nipp is asking the Coeur d’Alene City Council to change the rules at its meeting tonight.
City ordinance requires a minimum of 300 feet between the property line of a church and the nearest door into a place selling beer and wine. At Mr. Steak, the distance is 290 feet, Nipp said in a letter to the council.
He’s asking that the policy be changed so the measurement is taken from the main entrance of a restaurant to the main entrance of a church. In his case, that would boost the distance to 399 feet.
Councilman Ron Edinger expressed reluctance when the council’s General Services Committee considered the issue. Since the council cannot grant a one-time waiver, it would have to change the ordinance.
The Church of God, which is across the street from Mr. Steak, hadn’t heard of the proposal. “And we’d be against it - this is a church,” said Nelda Remington, a church employee.
On another matter, drug testing for city employees with commercial driver’s licenses is expected to be approved at the meeting which will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Federal law requires the testing, which will apply to about three dozen city employees beginning Jan. 1, said Rob Beck, city personnel director.
The council also will discuss a series of proposed street closures along U.S. Highway 95. The Idaho Department of Transportation wants to close Haycraft Avenue, Cherry Lane, Bosanco, Wilbur Avenue and Aqua Avenue. The Haycraft closure would come first.
Also on the agenda are:
Putting a stop sign at 10th Place and Gilbert Avenue.
Changing city recycling rules to include cardboard but drop glass. That is expected to net the city about $6,000 a year.
Annexing the 8.7-acre Ward’s Addition on Fernan Hill for a four-lot subdivision.
Clarifying the formula that’s used to determine how much land or money for park development a subdivision developer must give the city when asking for a parcel to be annexed.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: MEETING The City Council meets tonight at 7 in City Hall.