Restricting the sale and consumption of alcohol in the township is back, but this time the council decided to limit the distribution of liquor licenses to the south side of Route 38.
During a meeting on Monday, Sept. 10, the council was presented two solutions after Superior Court Judge Roger Bookbinder ruled that the second referendum on the ballot last year was considered illegal.
Approved by voters in November 2011, two questions appeared on the ballot — the first entailed approving the sales and consumption of liquor in Moorestown and the second restricted the sales to the Moorestown Mall.
After Bookbinder ruled in favor of East Gate, which challenged the restriction to the mall, the council had to decide on an alternative.
During a special meeting on Thursday, Sept. 6, the council went into closed session to discuss the details of the litigation and the resolution for consumption and sale of alcohol in Moorestown.
Township manager Scott Carew and township solicitor Thomas Coleman were asked to discuss the possible options for a new plan.
Coleman presented two options for ordinances. Council could limit the liquor licensing to the SRC (Special Restricted Commercial) zone (Option A) or limit it to a portion of the SRC zone (Option B) — the Moorestown Mall and East Gate.
Coleman mentioned Bookbinder’s ruling was that the township did not have sufficient evidence to limit the sales of alcohol in the mall. Now with the litigation behind them, the council selected the closest resolution to what the residents initially voted for and has enough evidence to support the action.
“[Bookbinder] did not say we can’t bring back question number two,” Coleman said.
Township planner and architect Brian Slaugh, presented the council with evidence to support council’s move before it approved the alternative.
To help revitalize and continue to attract countywide visitors to the mall, the economic development advisory committee came up with possible solutions to better the malls attractiveness and compete with the growing existence of Internet shopping and a recession.
According to Slaugh, in 2009 the Economic Planning and Development committee devised a master plan for development and redevelopment of Moorestown. It was a long term planning map to help bring income to Moorestown. By looking at strategies from locations such as restaurant row at the Cherry Hill Mall, establishment of restaurants would help bring business to the Moorestown Mall. But without a liquor license, restaurant chains are unable to open businesses, officials said.
“National restaurant chains cannot locate in municipalities if the municipality does not have a liquor license,” said Slaugh. “Higher end restaurants depend on the sale of alcohol . . . It’s hard to imagine fine dining without a wine selection.”
Slaugh also mentioned, from a capital standpoint, liquor licenses are expensive in New Jersey and chain restaurants are more willing to spend the money.
The location of East Gate and the Moorestown Mall causes a “regional draw” and by creating a plan focusing around an area with a potential increase in cash flow it could potentially act as a favorable location for chain restaurants
Council Member Stacy Jordan approved the idea to move forward with the second option. She thinks it “mirrors” the initial decision approved by the voters.
Council member Chris Chiacchio did not approve the initial action to restrict the licensing to the mall, but he believed the members still had a duty to carry out what the people would want.
“I think ‘B’ is the closest thing we can do,” Chiacchio said.
Council also moved forward to approving four bids on liquor licenses, awarding two to Moorestown Beverage LLC One, and two to Moorestown Beverage LLC Two, totaling approximately $4 million.
Coleman mentioned there are more licenses that are available for bidding.
According to council member Gregory Gallo, if East Gate passes the criteria the council created for the liquor license bids than East Gate will be awarded a license.
