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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Back in April of this year Hamilton County Commissioners voted to put a referendum on the November general election ballot, allowing county residents to decide whether on-premises establishments in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County should be able to sell liquor by the drink.
This item was introduced by Commissioner Lee Helton (R-East Brainerd), who believes that county residents should have a say in the matter.
County Commissioners Greg Beck (D-North Brainerd) and Steve Highlander (R-Ooltewah) chose to pass on the vote which means their votes counted against the referendum.
Currently, restaurants in certain parts of Hamilton County can sell beer but not cocktails containing liquor.
Projects are able to seek a permit from the state in order to sell liquor on the premises, but Commissioner Helton has stated that this can be a very time-consuming and cumbersome process.
“As the county develops the unincorporated areas and we have more commercial development, the state government is basically moving too slow at getting those permits,” Helton shared. “I thought it was a good time for us to step in.”
According to local developer of the Enclave shopping center at East Brainerd and Ooltewah Ringgold roads, Bassam Issa, such developments must currently meet particular criteria, like being located on a major highway, in order to qualify for a permit.
Issa stated that it is easier to bring desirable restaurants into a project if they are permitted to sell liquor on-premises which is still prohibited in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County.
People often prefer a drink with their meal, said Issa, and many folks who live within the county end up driving all the way downtown to visit a restaurant that offers that experience.
“That prohibits tenants from leasing from us in the county,” Issa noted. “It will concentrate everything to be downtown or within city limits…Why would you want to force people to go to a certain place, drive 40 minutes away, to get to their favorite restaurant?”
In November last year, a Publix opened up in the Enclave shopping center. Issa hopes to also add an upscale Mexican restaurant, a Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and a steakhouse.
However, these establishments have indicated that they can’t set up shop in unincorporated areas of Hamilton County if they can’t serve their full menu, which includes liquor.
“It’s not really that we’re after liquor,” Issa stated. “We’re after restaurants, and those restaurants cannot survive without this. This is American culture. They want to have a drink with their meal, so economically, the restaurants cannot live without it.”
Commissioner Helton also hopes that allowing liquor might create a more even playing field for businesses and enable the county government to collect more tax revenue for infrastructure and schools.
“It won’t be significant at first, but I think it will grow over time,” he said.
Unincorporated cities in Hamilton County that have previously held referendums on this same issue, such as Lakesite, will be able to continue to permit the sale of liquor by the drink on-premises regardless of this election’s outcome.
This election season, this new referendum will appear on the ballots of registered voters who are residents of unincorporated Hamilton County.
Tennessee’s election polls opened for early voting on Wednesday, October 16th.
Early voting will continue through October 31st and Election Day is November 5th.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
