The Bryan Planning Commission Monday afternoon approved two variance requests that will allow for a new state liquor store to be operated in the city.
The location will be 123 E. South St. and was being applied for by Fayez and Malek Abboud of BLPF, Inc. The store would be called Bryan Wine and Spirits.
The first variance is to reduce the required parking spaces for the three businesses located there from 40 to 26. Initially, the request was to reduce it to 27 spaces, but Planning Commission Chair Brian Wieland pointed out one of them would need to be a handicapped spot.
That variance was approved unanimously, despite one commission member admitting he would have a hard time approving the variances due to concerns he has, and he received from residents, about traffic congestion.
The second variance was to reduce the pavement area needed to allow traffic circulation in the area from 20 feet to five feet. Wieland said that proposal needs to be at least nine feet.
He and Mayor Carrie Schlade voted against that variance, saying they felt it would be better if the owners of Bryan Wine and Spirits got an easement agreement from the gas station next door.
During the meeting, numerous concerns were raised about traffic congestion in the area, relating to customers going to the store, as well as deliveries of beer, wine and liquor being made to the site and pickups by bars and restaurants in the county.
John Oberle, an attorney representing the Abbouds, said the family has a decade of experience operating state licenses liquor stores at various locations around Ohio.
It was also explained that if the variances were denied, the process to locate a state liquor store would have to begin again, and likely there would not be one located in Bryan or Williams County until at least 2026. The location being discussed is one of the few “wet” areas in the city that would permit liquor sales, especially on Sunday.
If another location was chosen that is in a “dry” area of the city, meaning liquor sales are not currently permitted, that could be changed by a local ballot initiative but that could not take place until next year.
“There were lots of bids (for a site) in the community, a lot of them were denied because most of Bryan is dry from a liquor standpoint,” Oberle said. “So we had to find a site, we knew that this site was wet, so sales could commence, so that was an important factor.”
Oberle added the owners feel the location is a good spot for the business because there are lots of other businesses near it and it is fairly centrally located in the city.
He also said he feels parking would not be an issue because one neighboring business is closed on Saturday and Sunday, as well as during a liquor store’s typical peak hours through the week.
There were also concerns with delivery trucks being able to back into the site and exit. Malek Abboud said the liquor deliveries would be made at 6 a.m. once a week or every two weeks, and there would also be scheduled beer and wine deliveries throughout the week.
The business would also offer delivery of liquor to the bars and restaurants that are its clients, which could help alleviate traffic issues. Malek said the delivery would be free for those establishments close to Bryan Wine and Spirits and $10 for out in the county.
Currently, those businesses need to drive to Defiance County to pick up their stock, about 28 miles away, according to Oberle.
“If the concern is traffic, we’ll work to mitigate that,” Oberle said. “We will work with the deliveries to make sure they’re at a time that’s not going to be congested.”
Several business owners signed a letter of concern about the location, but local officials also pointed out they were unaware of the delivery option to their business because it had not been mentioned. They were worried about traffic, as well as being able to park close enough to load their supply.
Malek pointed out his staff would bring the liquor out to them if they opt to pick it up themselves, and staff would help load it into the vehicle.
A few residents also expressed concern with traffic congestion in the area, saying there are already accidents there and traffic jams at various parts of the day.
Oberle also offered that he and the Abbouds would be willing to come back to the commission after a period of time following the store’s opening to discuss the situation and if any changes need to be made.
The owner of the building, Amy Rose, said that location has been vacant since last year and she is happy to get it rented. Oberle also said there will be extensive remodeling done inside the building.
Schlade said a hearing requested by council to meet with state officials on a beer and wine license for the location would likely be canceled due to the successful variance request so as not to slow the process.
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