The short answer to the question on when can a new liquor license be obtained in Shreveport is "who knows?"
In November, the Shreveport City Council passed a resolution requesting that the Shreveport-Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) impose a six-month moratorium on issuance of occupancy licenses for the city of Shreveport.
At its Dec. 1 meeting, the MPC Board approved the council's resolution.
Liquor store applications are governed by the Shreveport Unified Development Code (UDC) and enforced by the MPC.
The MPC staff will study the liquor licensing procedures, the density of stores and restrictions for the issuance of these occupancy licenses.
Once prepared, the staff's report will be submitted to the MPC board along with any suggested amendments to UDC.
Amendments to the UDC must be first introduced by the MPC board then lay over for a second meeting (or longer) before a vote can be taken. The MPC board meets monthly.
Thereafter, any suggested amendments are forwarded to the Shreveport City Council for introduction. Like with the MPC, any amendments cannot be approved by the council until a second reading at the earliest. The council meets twice monthly
The required timeline for the adoption of UDC amendments is at least two months. If none have been adopted within the six-month moratorium period, any additional delay in issuing liquor occupancy licenses will require council action.
MPC Executive Director Alan Clarke advised his office believes that Shreveport has 55 licensed liquor stores. The breakdown is District A, 9; District B, 8; District C, 10; District D, 7; District E, 8; District F, 8; and District G, 5.
These numbers do not support the arguments of council members Tabatha Taylor and John Nichelson that liquor stores are the bane of poor minority neighborhoods and for that reason a moratorium on any new liquor license issuance is warranted.
The density of the stores in certain locations is an issue that has been addressed by the council votes to disapprove license applications on certain streets in some neighborhoods, which has been an effective governmental management tool.
Now that the moratorium is in effect, the next real issue for the council will be whether or not an extension will be merited if any suggested UDC amendments are not enacted before the expiration of the six months, which is very unlikely. The moratorium vote has started the council on a course of action that most likely will not result in a timely resolution of the perceived problems with the city's alcohol licensing procedures.