Residents protest Lex. convenience store’s beer and wine license

More than 30 homeowners near Barr and Rawl roads in the town of Lexington on Tuesday protested a convenience store owner’s application for a beer and wine license.

The Jet Fuel store was constructed earlier this year at the intersection despite protests from residents who did not want commercial development there. The parcel has been zoned for restricted development since 1952, according to Lexington County tax documents. Since then, several residential communities have been developed around the location.

The property’s zoning allows for a convenience store.

The store's manager, Gary Singh, is seeking a permit from the state Department of Revenue to sell beer and wine for off-site consumption. Singh testified Tuesday that $1 million has already been invested in the store, which is scheduled to open next month. Singh declined to comment to The State.

Singh, who was represented by attorney Kenneth E. Allen, also told Administrative Law Judge Bill Funderburk that he has helped manage and open three other Jet Fuel stores in the Columbia area. No protests were held against the construction of those stores or their sale of alcohol.

Attorney Brittany Kilpatrick, who represented the Department of Revenue during Tuesday’s hearing, said Singh had met all requirements for the beer and wine sales permit, but she added the permit had not been issued because of public protest.

“We are protesting the issuance of this permit ... because it is an unsuitable location to sell alcohol and will have a detrimental impact on our community,” said Connie Brock of the Creekwood neighborhood near Barr and Rawl roads. “This location is within proximity to churches — some of which offer (alcohol) recovery programs — schools and playgrounds and is not only in a primarily residential area but one that is very heavily residential.”

While the store is within 500 feet of Heritage Christian Academy on Barr Road and is 0.6 miles from First Baptist Church of Lexington, no rules prevent beer and wine sales near churches or schools. State law prevents liquor from being sold within 500 feet of schools and churches.

At Tuesday’s hearing, residents said they were concerned about increased traffic at the intersection. They said traffic will be greater not only because of convenience store itself but also because of the potential beer and wine sales.

“The selling of beer and wine there will definitely increase traffic congestion and we don't need more congestion in this area that is continuing to see rapid residential growth,” said Ron Patooga, who lives on Barr Road diagonally across from the store. “It's not a good fit for a community of people who moved there for quiet, safe neighborhoods. ... And there is no other commercial property within a good half mile radius of this store.”

Also, homeowners said they were concerned about property values decreasing. Melissa Kyzer, a real estate agent who lives at 615 Barr Road across from the site, said the owners of a nearby home on Barr Road had two potential sales fall through and took a $45,000 loss to complete a sale last month.

“That home had two contracts on it and both times the buyer backed out when learning that the convenience store was coming and that there might be alcohol sales there,” Kyzer said. “It's a home that sold for $275,000 three years ago (and) had to sell for $230,000.”

Funderburk is expected to issue a decision within 30 days.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Residents protest Lex. convenience store’s beer and wine license."