With heavy equipment poised to move earth for a new state liquor store in Layton, the Joint Executive Appropriations Committee pulled the plug on the project Monday afternoon.
The Legislature's top budget committee agreed to reopen a budget to permit Rep. Kevin Garn, R-Layton, to propose consent language that the state abandon the project amid concerns the liquor outlet was too close to a hospital, clinics and a drug and alcohol treatment center.Rep. Blake Chard, R-Layton, said he had been "inundated" with letters from health-care professionals who opposed locating the store so close to the facilities.
"This is not appropriate. Maybe they should look somewhere else," Chard said.
Construction of the new liquor outlet, scheduled to be built at 1750 W. 2000 North, was approved by the Layton City Council in July, said Dennis Kellen, operations manager of the state Division of Alcohol Beverage Control. The new, 6,000-square-foot facility was intended to replace a 3,500-square-foot outlet at 1241 N. Main.
Even though the state Department of Facilities Construction and Management had already awarded a contract to a builder for construction of the liquor outlet, Alcoholic Beverage Control Com-mis-sioner Larry Lunt said "it's not something the commission wants to fall on the sword over."
Lunt noted that there is a liquor store within three blocks of his home in Holladay.
"Myself and my neighbors have never had any problem. It's not where you sell it, it's where you drink it," he said.
Garn said even though Layton officials had granted permits to build the liquor store, Mayor Jerry Stevenson now wants the state-owned business to find a new site.
The landlord of the existing store has consented to extend the lease until the state can find another home for the liquor store, Garn said.
Layton's economic development specialist, Tom Christopulos, said the city was surprised by the concern addressed by Davis Hospital and Medical Center about the liquor store.
"We looked at it from zoning and land use," Christopulos said about the city being powerless to deny the liquor store a permit for the site because it met all the criteria. The City Council approved the site last summer.
He said the hospital's main concern is that alcoholics in drug and treatment programs would pass by the store. The hospital is directly across the street from the proposed liquor store.
Christopulos said a state liquor store isn't something a city desires to have.
"No city really wants it, but we've already got one," he said.
Layton City Manager Alex Jensen said the city has no concerns about the liquor store's current or proposed site. He said no one ever seems to want such a store near their home or business, but now the state will have to solve this dilemma itself.
Christopulos said the state wanted the new, expanded liquor store to remain in Layton.