Dry Counties Facing Zoning Issues As Liquor Sales Approved

"Lubbock's planning and zoning commission will tonight take another crack at rules setting where businesses sell alcohol in the city.

Local retailers won a temporary restraining order in May blocking new permits for beer, wine and liquor stores until Lubbock changes zoning ordinances passed less than six months ago to meet established state law.

Discussion on that first ordinance passed without incident last October, current commission chairman Marc Chapman said.

Voters approved off-premise beer, wine and liquor sales throughout the county by an almost two-to-one margin in early May. But zoning problems could keep residents from shopping for alcohol in central Lubbock until fall."