MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2003
OFFTHEHILL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 11D
CITY COMMISSION
Liquor laws may loosen in city
By Maggie Newcomer mnewcomer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Soon football fans and die-hard Sunday barbecuers might not have to think too far ahead to buy beer.
Following in Leavenworth and Lenexa's footsteps, the Lawrence City Commission moved towards approving an ordinance for Lawrence Sunday liquor sales by a 5-0 vote July 1, 2003.
The commission will discuss the issue in September and the community has until then to protest the change in Sunday liquor sales. According to the ordinance, liquor stores could open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays and on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.
Steve Peppes, Leawood senior, said it was about time Lawrence liquor stores opened on Sundays.
Peppes said it was common
practice for him and his friends to drive to Missouri on Sundays to buy beer, especially during football season.
"We're so close," Peppes said. "Especially if I'm going to a Chief's game."
Zach Bassin, KU graduate and employee of Cork & Barrel, 901 Mississippi St., said opening liquor stores on Sundays would keep tax dollars in Lawrence.
Commissioner Mike Rundle said he had yet to hear negative reactions to Sunday liquor sales.
Local liquor store owners, however, had mixed reactions.
Dan Blomgren, owner of three Lawrence Cork & Barrels, said he fully supported the ordinance.
"I sell a legal product to people of legal drinking age," Blomgren said. "Give me that opportunity to stay open on Sundays."
Joe Schmidtberger, owner of Alvin's Wine and Spirits, 905 Iowa St., said he didn't think
Sunday sales would affect his profits. Schmidberger said paying employees for Sunday work might even cost him money.
"It would just stretch six days of profits to seven," Schmidt-berger said.
He said every household had a certain amount of money it could spend on alcohol and staying open an extra day would not encourage extra spending.
encourage Bloomgren said if opening on Sundays did not prove profitable, he would return to operating six days a week.
Peppes admitted Sunday liquor sales were not critical, but a luxury. He said it was a matter of convenience.
"What if I want to have wine or beer with dinner on Sunday?" Peppes said. "Am I supposed to know at least one day ahead of time what I'll be in the mood for?"
— Edited by Richard Gintowt
Residents react as Greeks move in
By Maggie Newcomer
nnewcomer@kansan.com
mansan staff writer
HOUSING
One battle is finished, but the war between greek organizations and Lawrence residents isn't over.
At their meeting in early July, city commissioners gave Alpha Gamma Delta sorority the goahead to build a new house at 1520 Sigma Nu Place, to the disenchantment of the sorority's new neighbors.
Although Highberger passed this vote, the commissioner said he would be reluctant to approve the building of another dormitory-style house on the adjacent empty lot, also zoned for residential dormitory housing. That lot is also for sale by Sigma Nu fraternity.
Commissioner Dennis "Boo" Highberger gave Alpha Gamma Delta the edge in the 3-2 vote.
Highberger said he thought the house was too much of a contrast with the single-family homes it borders. But, he said, it was approved because the proposal met all guidelines for residential dormitory zones.
Rick Stein, a neighbor on nearby Avalon Road, said he had wanted a different outcome and was disappointed.
Stein said he would not oppose another greek house in the neighborhood, but he wanted the house to be smaller and for fewer students.
"How much noise do we have to hear?" Stein said. "How much litter are we going to have to pick out of our yards?"
Stein said he was concerned with the greek organizations disrupting the neighborhood lifestyle. He said neighborhood residents had not experienced any problems with existing greek organizations in the neighborhood, but were concerned about the increase in traffic on their streets.
The city commission decided to require sorority members living at Alpha Gamma Delta to put identifying stickers on their cars so neighbors would know if they were parking on their streets.
Neighborhood residents were prepared to ask the city commission to re-zone Alpha Gamma Delta's lot to prevent building, but when the commission passed the sorority's proposal, re-zoning became moot.
Stein said residents would try to re-zone the second lot as well to bar additional density problems in the neighborhood.
Highberger said he preferred a compromise between residents and Greek organizations to rezoning.
Edited by Saju Ng'allo
WELCOME TO TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
WEDNESDAY
HEALING SERVICE
CHAPEL (1027 VERMONT)
6:00 PM
SUNDAY SERVICES
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
1011 VERMONT STREET
843-6166
office@trinitylawrence.org
"The Ultimate in Luxury Living"
- Full size washer and dryer
Luxury 1,2, & 3 BR apts.
24 hour fitness room
Computer Center
Pool with sudeck
1/4 mile west on Wakarusa 5000 Clinton Parkway
www.pinnaclewoods.com
785-865-5454