Zoo closer to adding taps

The city council on Thursday approved a request from Lowry Park Zoo to expand alcohol sales and consumption to every corner of the tourist attraction.

Council members raised no objections to the zoo's request to expand its wet-zoning permit to allow beer, wine and hard liquor across the 60-acre central Tampa park.

Nobody from the public voiced opposition to the proposal.

Alcoholic beverages are only available at certain food stands and restaurants in an area covering roughly half of the zoo property, including a portion of the parking lot.

Because the request would allow alcohol sales within 1,000 feet of several churches, which is prohibited under city code, the zoo must get approval from the council.

Grace Yang, an attorney representing the zoo, said the changes would allow the park to serve alcohol at fundraisers and special events in areas that currently are off-limits.

"This will allow the zoo to generate additional revenue to support the overall operations," she told council members.

Zoo officials have said they are not seeking to increase alcohol sales, which account for less than 5 percent of the nonprofit organization's food and beverage revenue.

Tampa code prohibits alcohol sales on city-owned land. It is permitted if the city does not own or operate the business selling alcohol. The city owns Lowry Park, but the zoo is owned and operated by Lowry Park Zoological Society.

Two years ago, the council approved a similar request from Busch Gardens to expand alcohol sales but imposed a series of tough restrictions on sales and consumption.

The conditions included restricting beer, wine and liquor sales to receptions held at the park and limiting the hours that alcohol can be sold and consumed at the park.

A few months before, the council rejected a request to expand alcohol sales at Raymond James Stadium, citing concerns over alcohol-related incidents at the football stadium.

The council will have a second and final reading of the zoo's request on March 4.