High Springs businesses wanting to serve alcohol within the city’s restricted distance from a church can now apply for permanent exemptions to do so, following a unanimous vote from the City Commission on Thursday.
The vote approved an amendment to the current alcohol ordinance which prohibits the sale of alcohol from within 500 feet of church property. The amendment, however, distinguishes that ability based on whether the church owns or leases its property.
If the church owns its property within 500 feet of the alcohol-selling business, the business can ask the church for a waiver approving them to sell alcohol and include the waiver in an application submitted to the City Commission for approval…