Norwalk : Tighter Liquor License Law

The Norwalk City Council has tentatively approved an ordinance that would give city officials more power to regulate businesses that sell alcoholic beverages.

The ordinance, which will probably come back before the council later this month for final approval, would require all such businesses to secure a conditional-use permit. It would allow the city to establish conditions, such as noise limits and security measures, to buffer nearby residences, schools, hospitals and other neighboring uses.

The ordinance would affect businesses that serve alcoholic beverages for on-site and take-out consumption. Norwalk now only requires a conditional-use permit for businesses serving alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption.

Jeffrey A. Bruyn, deputy city manager for community development, said officials want to be able to more closely regulate such businesses. He said no specific incident prompted the introduction of the ordinance.

Existing businesses would fall under the conditions of the ordinance if they expand or modify their liquor licenses to include different alcoholic beverages.

No one spoke against the ordinance during a public hearing last week.