Requires notice to the appropriate community board of any application for liquor store license in the city of New York

1 Co-sponsor

• Leroy Comrie

BILL NUMBER:S4359

Title of bill

An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to requiring notice to the appropriate community board of any application for liquor store license in the city of New York

Purpose or general idea of bill

Requires an establishment to give notice to the appropriate community board not less than thirty days prior to the submission of an application for a license to sell liquor in the city of New York.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Amends the alcoholic beverage control law by adding a new subdivision 1-b to Section 63. This subdivision requires an applicant for a license to sell liquor for consumption off the premises in New York City to notify the community board with jurisdiction over the area in which the licensed premises are to be located before submitting such an application to the State Liquor Authority. (Community boards in the city of New York are established pursuant to section twenty-eight hundred of the New York City charter). This subdivision requires that the appropriate community board be notified by certified mail, return receipt requested, not less than thirty days prior to the submission of the liquor license application. The community board will then have the opportunity to express an opinion for or against the granting of such license. Any opinion expressed by the board will become part of the record upon which the State Liquor Authority makes its decision to grant or deny the new license.

Justification

Liquor retailers serve a need in New York City. While contributing to the local economy, they provide consumers with a valued product. However, a proliferation of liquor stores in a small community can lead to unintended consequences. An inundation can scare away other types of business. Similarly, a crowd of retailers can negatively alter the character of a neighborhood. It is only fair that community members be given an opportunity to voice their concerns about possible future liquor stores.

Currently, applicants for licenses to sell beer, wine, and liquor for consumption on the premises in New York City are required to notify the local community board of their intentions at least thirty days prior to the submission of their application. This legislation would extend that practice to include applicants seeking to sell liquor and/or wine for consumption off the premises. Without this law, a community board can be caught off guard by the opening of a new liquor store in an already crowded district.

As representatives of their community, community boards are able to relay the residents' concerns regarding liquor licenses to the State Liquor Authority. This legislation would allow the Authority to make a well-informed decision on the impact of a new liquor license in a given area. It gives the community members, the people most affected by the introduction of a new liquor store, an opportunity to have their voices heard before any license is granted.

Prior legislative history

2010/2011Held in Rules 20/13/2014referred to economic development 06/10/14reported referred to rules

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately