OCEAN CITY – A compromise measure between private industry and the Department of Liquor Control led to an amendment that would instill a one-year restriction for additional liquor stores within a 10-block radius in Ocean City of an existing DLC store.
This amendment covers the 10 blocks north and south of the Gold Coast Mall location and the 16th street DLC store.
Outside of the municipality, the amendment restricts new stores from opening within one mile of the existing DLC store on Route 50, just east of Seahawk Rd and one mile in all directions from the DLC store in Pocomoke.
The compromise comes after much debate surrounding the original 10-mile radius provision in the House version of the bill (HB 697) that would establish a Class A beer, wine, and liquor license in Worcester County; providing that the license authorizes the sale of beer, wine, and liquor at the place described in the license for off-premises consumption.
“Delegate (Mary Beth) Carozza and Delegate (Charles) Otto wrote the 10-mile radius into the house bill as specifically requested by the County Commissioners,” said Jimmy Williams, Carrozza’s Legislative Aid, “but they have amended the language to match that of the Senate bill, which includes this new compromise.”
Several weeks ago, Senator Jim Mathias refused to put the 10-mile radius provision in his bill (SB 967) saying that the provision “thwarted private business and/or capital investment.”
Mathias believed not allowing a new liquor store or stores to open within 10 miles in all directions from the four existing county-run liquor stores would essentially leave no room in the county for a new business to open while the county tried to sell off its reported $4.5 million in surplus booze inventory and the four retail stores.
Despite calling for “compromise” between private industry and the County Commissioners, Mathias was publically criticized by some members of the County Commissioners for not following their exact request.
This week, Mathias said he was pleased compromise was finally achieved.
“These amendments take into consideration all the private and public concerns that have been expressed and I expect this to be a local courtesy bill and that will be that,” Mathias said. “I want to keep the relationships intact with the government and private industry and I’m not going to get into those judgmental remarks that were made. The end result here is a good compromise measure that takes into account all my concerns about not hurting small business. This moves this dismantlement forward and continues to allow confidence in the industry that allows these businesses to show their confidence in the industry through their many capital projects that have been underway this winter.”
County Commissioner Joe Mitrecic, a longtime proponent of the county getting out of the liquor business entirely, admits the 10-mile radius provision was a bit of a longshot and that the key is getting the bill passed.
“To me, it’s always been about getting it done so we can get out of the liquor business as clean as possible,” said Mitrecic. “Our plan, as it stands now, is to be completely out of the liquor business by July 1, 2017, and I don’t see that changing. That’s the plan.”
Mitrecic believes this compromise will help the county sell off its remaining assets in the DLC. He confirmed that there has been interest in a few of the stores, particularly the Ocean City locations.
With the language on both versions of the bill now consistent, Mathias and Carrozza’s camp are confident the bill will be approved by the respective committees in the coming days.