Florissant City Council Passes Six-Month Moratorium on Nightclubs, Taverns

Those who planned to reopen or bring a new nightclub or bar to the Florissant area might have a small glitch in their plans due to a new ordinance passed by Monday night.

The council held a public hearing and introduced a bill where for the next six months no permits or licenses for nightclubs, taverns and cocktail lounges would be issued by the city.

City Attorney explained that under current conditions, taverns, nightclubs and lounges simply apply for their licenses and permits compared to restaurants that have to apply for a special use permit and appear in front of planning and zoning as well as city council.

The moratorium allows the city staff, planning and zoning as well as the city council to study the issue and make a determination if they would like to make a change in zoning codes.

Hessel further clarified that it would not affect current clubs, taverns or cocktail lounges operating in the area.

The moratorium came to light as several residents complained at the May 23 council meeting about , a local nightclub, causing a great deal of noise and problems in the residential area.

Florissant Patch previously reported that the club had plans to reopen as , but no permits or applications had been filed with the city for a new business at 2950 Derhake Rd.

Resident Elizabeth Bowling, who was one of several residents to complain at that meeting about the club, said she was happy to hear that the city is taking time to look at the ordinance, and she looks forward to the recommendations that planning and zoning will make.

Although six months has been given to look at the issue and make a determination, Hessel said that he believed it would take at most 60 days to look at and pass a new recommendation.

The bill passed unanimously by the council, 8-0.