The Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-2 Feb. 18 to approve a zoning change to allow for an existing billiards hall and new package liquor store in a large multi-tenant shopping center located at 2301 N. Collins St.
The shopping center contains 23 tenant suites, eight of which are currently vacant. The site currently is zoned community commercial and planned development for a billiards parlor and the request for planned development for community commercial uses plus a billiards parlor and a package liquor store. Commissioners Robert Blake and Thomas Ware voted no.
The proposed liquor store will occupy a vacant suite that is about 3,000 square feet and was previously used as a nail salon.
Shopping center owner Asad Kothari told the commission that he is a longtime Arlington resident and business owner.
“Not only do we live in Arlington, we love the city of Arlington. We do business in Arlington. The idea is to present a change in existing (planned development) zoning that will allow for liquor store use for an existing site. We’re not doing any changes, not doing any updates. We’re not doing new construction,” Kothari said. “We’re not doing any outside changes or anything.”
While commission members were generally supportive of Kothari’s request to place a liquor store on the property, Blake and Ware expressed concerns.
“I’m just really concerned about putting another liquor store in kind of close proximity with others that also are adjacent. We’ve had a case similar to this come up in front of us that I also was relatively opposed to, because it was a liquor store next to a bar. And I just can’t say that that’s going to be a good combination,” Blake said.
Kothari assured the commission that he would take measures to ensure that the liquor store would be a good neighbor, promising a well-lighted parking lot, security cameras and on-site personnel to watch the property.
Commissioner Tracy Winkles said she checked with police records and that the shopping center does not generate many calls.
“I did look up calls for that general zone and there’s not a lot of calls into that strip center, even with the billiards that’s there,” Winkles said.
Kothari agreed to make improvements to the center’s landscaping and to not bring a pawn shop to the center, if the zoning change was approved.
The case will go before Arlington City Council on March 24.
Lance Murray is a freelance contributor covering business for the Arlington Report.
At the Arlington Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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