(Okoboji)– Siting zoning laws, the Okoboji city council Tuesday denied another liquor license application filed by Butch Parks.
This one is for the O’Farrell Sisters Restaurant Parks recently purchased.
The restaurant held a liquor license previously…in 1994…under a non-conforming special exception use permit that was granted for the residentially-zoned area. However, City Attorney Mike Chozen told the council the property lost that designation because a bar hasn’t been operated from the restaurant in recent years. Under city code, a non-conforming use loses its status after one year of vacancy. Siting the code, Chozen reommended the council deny the liquor license application.
The council was also presented with five petitions with signatures of residents opposed to a license being granted to the business.
The council’s vote to deny the application was unanimous. Parks expressed his frustration over the action, saying he feels discriminated against.
The council’s action to deny a license to Parks for the former Okoboji Boats property last year remains in litigation. Parks contested that action to the state’s Liquor Control Commission. The city wound up suing Parks in district court over that matter. A judge has yet to rule in the case.
On another matter, the Okoboji city council Tuesday adopted a resolution of intent for a property swap between the city and Mau Marine. In exchange for the city taking ownership of land owned by Mau west of Tweeter’s, Mau would take ownership of city-owned land consisting of the former Okoboji city haul and maintenance building.
A public hearing on the matter is set for July 13th.
The city had also received property swap proposals from Butch Parks and attorney Bill Sackett. But the city’s Building Committee recommended the Mau proposal instead.
The city has been actively pursuing a site to build a new maintenance/police/fire facility.
