Planning staff (identified in the meeting as Miss Olga) presented Ordinance 18-25 on Sept. 30, a proposed amendment to allow a second Lucky's Liquor retail location within the Lakeside Shops and Business Park on the town’s west side. The application requested a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to authorize liquor sales for a family-owned business that already operates a Little Elm location, and staff said the request is intended to serve neighborhood retail needs.

Miss Olga told council the Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed the application on Sept. 18 and recommended approval by a 4-0 vote, citing the operator’s local ownership and prior record as a “good neighbor.” Staff outlined standard conditions before issuance of a certificate of occupancy: the business must obtain proper licensing, comply with Chapter 10 (Alcoholic Beverages) of the Town Code, avoid shelving in front of storefront glazing, limit window signage to legal and operational notices, prohibit outdoor card storage, and restrict smoking associated with purchases (no smoking within 20 feet of building entrances, windows or ventilation systems).

A council member asked whether the separation requirement between liquor stores was a thousand feet; staff said the town’s spacing/separation requirement is about 1,000 feet. Planning staff also noted that a liquor-store SUP request at the ACE Shopping Center was denied in 2024 because the commission found that particular retailer did not match neighborhood-retail expectations; staff said the current operator’s local ownership and scale influenced a different outcome.

After opening and closing the public hearing with no speakers, council considered a motion to approve Ordinance 18-25 with the recommended conditions. The council approved the ordinance; the meeting record shows the motion was moved and seconded, and a roll/voice count indicated a majority approval with one member recorded as opposed. Ordinance 18-25 was approved and the chair announced the item was approved.