St. Paul may stop giving churches, schools veto power over bars

The rule comes from a more puritan age, when cities thought it wise to keep their innocents away from debauchery and sin. In St. Paul, that meant no liquor licenses were granted within 300 feet of a school or house of worship.

It might have been a tad unconstitutional, effectively granting religions veto power over land use. But the occasional collision was never enough to stir much of a fuss.

Then, last December, St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists issued a protest. The city had granted a license to the Gray Duck Tavern the year before. Since it was within 300 feet from the downtown school, board members wanted said license suspended.

Only months earlier, a similar collision had taken place in Minneapolis. Strip club magnate Peter Hafiz hoped to open a topless bar at 415 First Ave. N. Yet the location was within 500 feet of 3 Degrees, a former Christian nightclub turned church. 3 Degrees protested to the city, which ruled in its favor.

Read more: http://www.citypages.com/restaurants/st-paul-may-stop-giving-churches-schools-veto-power-over-bars/508353911