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Cinema Near Church To Ask For Liquor License

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 11, 2008

Updated: 06/11/2008 07:34 pm

WESLEY CHAPEL - The developers of Wesley Chapel's first movie theater will ask planning commissioners today to approve a license to serve alcohol despite the facility's proximity to a church on Old Pasco Road.

The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today at the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey.

Alabama-based Cobb Theatres is nearly finished with its 16-screen multiplex at The Grove at Wesley Chapel, a shopping complex that opened last fall just north of the junction of County Road 54 and Oakley Boulevard.

The theater will include food service in several screening rooms reserved for adults. The developers would like to include wine and beer on their dining menu, but they need the county's permission to do so.

County rules forbid the sale of alcoholic beverages within 1,000 feet of schools and churches. County officials have issued conflicting rulings on liquor-license exemptions through the years, granting some and denying others.

The Cobb multiplex sits 827 feet to the east of Faith Baptist Church, which is between Old Pasco Road and Oakley Boulevard. Church members have urged county officials to turn down Cobb's request for a liquor license.

County staff members are recommending planning commissioners reject the exemption because of the theater's proximity to the church.

Also at today's meeting, planning commissioners will consider granting a liquor license for a new Beef 'O'Brady's restaurant at Wilderness Commons shopping center at U.S. 41 and Wilderness Lake Boulevard. The site is within 1,000 feet of Land O' Lakes High School.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201 or kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com.

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