West Cape May Passes Liquor License Ordinance

WEST CAPE MAY — Borough Commission passed an ordinance Aug. 26 to allow the sale of two liquor licenses in West Cape May to provide revenue for tax relief for residents.
Voters approved a non-binding referendum November 4, 2008, permitting the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages in the borough.
No one was in the audience for the public hearing other than two reporters.
Two licenses will be offered for bid: one retail consumption license and one retail distribution license. The first would allow alcohol sales at a restaurant; the second would permit alcoholic beverage sales at a liquor store.
A minimum bid price of $650,000 has been set for a restaurant license and $750,000 for a retail license.
Borough Solicitor Christine Cote is preparing bid packages that will be available to interested parties. According to Borough Clerk Elaine Wallace, the packages will be available on Sept. 23 at the earliest.
Borough Commission is expected to adopt a resolution at its Sept. 9 meeting to offer the licenses for bid.
Bidders need to include a 10 percent deposit. The deposit is refunded to losing bidders.
The ordinance does not allow liquor to be sold or served in restaurants weekdays between the hours of 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. In addition: no retail liquor sales would be permitted weekdays from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.
The ordinance does not allow alcoholic beverages to be sold or served in a restaurant on Sundays from 10 pm. to 10 a.m. A retail store would not be permitted to sell liquor on Sundays from 10 p.m. to noon.
The ordinance regulates music at an establishment that serves alcohol specifying that “any vocal or instrumental music shall require such vocal or instrumental music to end one hour before the time when the sale of alcoholic beverages are required to stop; and, shall be subject to compliance with the Borough of West Cape May noise ordinance.”
No licensee shall operate within 1,000 feet of a public building, school or house of worship.