DeKalb County, unlike
jurisdictions such as Cobb County, does not define nightclubs in its
zoning code nor attempt to isolate them from neighborhoods. To pour
alcohol at an all-night dance venue with a deejay, one merely needs an
alcohol license and a kitchen. Such an establishment can open anywhere
a restaurant can, even abutting a neighborhood.
County commissioners are in
charge of the zoning law, and Commissioner Jeff Rader, who spearheaded
the effort to roll back bar hours, said he thinks nightclubs have
exploited an "inadequate" code. "One of the big problems we have in
DeKalb is that these things can pop up almost anywhere," he said,
adding that he'd like to tighten the code after addressing pouring
hours.
TT | AJC | 11/23/2007
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