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LOCAL
Ravenna Record-Courier
Ravenna City Council has turned down a request to transfer a liquor license to a convenience store near an elementary school.
Council voted 5-2 against a TREX liquor license transfer request for a convenience store at 623 W. Main St. in Ravenna. The store previously operated as a Lawson's and had a liquor license at that time, but most recently operated as a hair salon.
Councilwomen Cheryl Wood and Christina West voted yes, while Tim Calfee, Paul Moskun, Amy Michael, Tyler Marovich and Matt Harper voted no.
Josh Patel, who plans to open the store, told council last month that without the liquor license, he would still open the store, but didn't expect that it would succeed.
A TREX request is a economic development transfer. When a business can't get a new liquor permit because none are available, they can transfer a license from another place in Ohio, as long as they have a letter from the local government, stating that the project is part of an economic development project, according to the Department of Commerce's website.
Calfee said the city is out of liquor licenses, which are allocated by the city's size.
"I would say that maybe we have enough," he said. He added that the store's small number of employees means it doesn't meet the requirements for "economic development projects."
Councilwoman Amy Michael, who has been a vocal opponent of the license because of the store's proximity to West Main Elementary School, also spoke against the project.
"I do not feel this is economic development," she said. "I don't feel it's an appropriate location. I think it's up to us as council on making a statement of what we want in our community."
Council President Rob Kairis, who said the city previously has granted similar TREX requrests, does not cast a vote unless there is a tie.
Michael said the city's economic development director, Dennis Woods, also has said Patel's request doesn't represent economic development.
"I will take his word for it, and not yours, sorry," she said.
Cheryl Wood, the councilwoman, disagreed, saying any time jobs come in, even if it's only a few, it's still economic development.
"I do have to say, we've done this before ... and I want to be fair across the board," she said.
Harper said he's concerned about the business's proximity to the school, as well as other businesses that sell alcohol.
"I would say it's nice that this family chose Ravenna to start a business," he said. "The concern is that we are maxed out on alcohol permits."
At the October meeting, Patel said he previously operated a store in Cuyahoga Falls with his brother, and it had no issues. He said he's willing to install cameras and do whatever he could to comply with laws and help the community.
"All I can do is try to survive," he said. "I'm doing my best."
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or [email protected].