Winter Garden To Make Moves To Preserve Downtown Experience

The small town feel in thriving areas such as Winter Garden, Florida may be changing due to an influx of people and a rise in new businesses which is forcing these downtown areas to reevaluate how they are serving the public. We recently reported on a similar type change in downtown Orlando as they battled an increase in incidents requiring police interaction. Is Winter Garden now falling to the same issues or is this an reactionary change?

On August 17th an email went out to downtown Winter Garden business owners and stakeholders from the city of Winter Garden officials indicating Florida has amended the law and requirements for alcohol sales and licensure last year and therefore, the city wants to preview an ordinance that is being proposed “to ensure sufficient alignment with the state statute, while at the same time include considerations that are both right for Winter Garden and preserve what we’ve collectively worked so hard to nurture in vibrancy and family-friendliness.”

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The new ordinance which is still under consideration and has not yet been read for consideration or proposed discusses governing and defining who, where and when businesses can sell alcohol. Some of the highlights include distance of business establishment locations near a church or school, hours of sale and service of alcoholic beverages. There are clearly defined restaurants and guidelines to discontinue selling and serving alcoholic beverages when food service is not available via onsite food preparation facilities.

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The ordinance states it is to address loud and raucous behavior by patrons; causing a shift in patronage from shopping, dining and family entertainment to purchasing and consuming alcohol; requiring the city to expend increased resources upon police patrols and other law-enforcement actions; and creating an environment inconsistent with a healthy environment and family-oriented focus.

Photo byCamillo Vitale

From a view of the ordinance is calls out the City wishes to encourage and facilitate a family-oriented environment in its Historic Downtown District and surrounding areas and having considered the matter, including input from the public, the City finds that it is in the best interests of the residents of Winter Garden and the public welfare that Section 6-4 of the City Code be amended to provide for earlier cut-off times for the sale, consumption, and serving of alcoholic beverages at places of business licensed under the Florida Beverage Law. They call out Section 6-7 of the City Code establishing distance separation requirements for package store vendors. The City Commission finds that it is in the interests of the welfare, health, and safety of the public that Section 6-4 of the City Code to be amended to clarify and provide that alcoholic beverages may not be served at a restaurant unless its onsite kitchen or food preparation facilities are in operation and food service is available to customers; and the City Commission finds that it is in the interests of the welfare, health, and safety of the public that Section 6-7 of the City Code to be amended to provide an exception to the package store vendor separation requirements for incidental package sales associated with grocery stores they also call out the Winter Garden Theatre as an exception to the rules below.

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(c) Winter Garden Theatre. The Winter Garden Theatre existing upon city owned property located at 160 West Plant Street, having Orange County Tax Parcel Identification #23-22-27- 2888-03-034 is permitted to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption in accordance with its state alcoholic beverage license during hours in which the Winter Garden Theatre is open to patrons to attend screenings, shows, productions, and performances, provided that such hours are not inconsistent with Section 6-4(a).

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As you may imagine this has been a polarizing issue, and for good reason. Winter Garden is moving past its small town label, but wants to hold on to that same charm it has been known for. With all of the people moving to the Orlando area the area has transformed from a sleepy downtown to a thriving hub of activity. The majority of downtown restaurants have really been thriving with all the activity and later hours so they are mostly skeptical of any changes and view them as a threat to their business.

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Winter Garden’s proximity to Orlando and the theme parks has made it an ideal spot to live, work and visit. Winter Garden has a thriving business community comprised small businesses, its historic downtown and a premier shopping district with over one million square feet known as the Winter Garden Village at Fowlers Grove. Over 2,000 businesses call Winter Garden home. The City is a greenhouse for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

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What are your thoughts on the potential changes in Winter Garden? Are you for or against these modifications to the ordinance?