Fayetteville looks to join the rest of the county’s governments in making it more difficult for teenagers to drink alcohol.
During Thursday’s City Council meeting, the city conducted the first read of a social hosting ordinance. The ordinance is virtually a mirror image of Peachtree City’s and puts an onus on parents or adults who allow parties or other events at their homes with minors present.
“The City Council intends to discourage underage possession and consumption of alcohol, even if done within the confines of a private residence, and intends to hold persons criminally responsible who host events or gatherings where persons under 21 years of age possess or consume alcohol regardless of whether the person hosting the event or gathering supplied the alcohol,” reads the ordinance.
The ordinance would make it unlawful for any person to host or allow an event or gathering at any residence, premises, or on any other private or public property where alcohol or alcoholic beverages are present when the person knows or reasonably should know that an underage person will or does consume any alcohol or alcoholic beverage or possesses any alcohol or alcoholic beverage with the intent to consume it;
If the person fails to take reasonable steps to prevent possession or consumption by the underage person, the party-giver would be in violation of the ordinance.
The ordinance would not apply to conduct solely between an underage person and his parent. The second read and adoption of the ordinance is set for Dec.17.
In other news, the City Council:
• Postponed adopting the extension of the city’s Tax Allocation District. The city wanted to add more property to aid in the city’s master plan for downtown Fayetteville. City Councilman and soon-to-be Mayor Ed Johnson asked the issue be tabled for further discussion.
In public comments, former City Councilman Al Hovey-King asked the council members to read a recent study by Georgia State that outlines some of the potential ramifications if a TAD is unsuccessful. “I don’t want to see the city’s residents on the hook for this,” he said.
• Heard the first reads for two rezonings. The first request was for a nearly 34-acre tract located on Ga. Highway 54, near Yorktown Medical Center. The property would be rezoned from C-3 (Highway Commercial) to MO (Medical Office). The change would allow an assisted living facility to be constructed.
The second rezoning involved a 19-acre site at Promenade Parkway, across from the Fayette Pavilion. The applicant wants the property rezoned from C-3 (Highway Commercial) to M-1 (Light Manufacturing) to develop an industrial park. Both rezonings will have their second read and adoption Dec.17.
