The Alcohol Control Commission had recommended eliminating the restriction after hearing cases of residents barred from jobs because of incidents that happened years ago.
“It’s only common sense to give these people an opportunity to work,” said City Commissioner Jamie Doss, who chairs the ACC.
Anyone convicted of a violent felony in the past 10 years, however, will remain ineligible for a permit.
City commissioners also approved three rezoning applications as recommended by the Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission — but rejected a fourth that also had planning commission support.
Mayor Wright Bagby Jr. cast the tie vote that doomed Tonya Shepard’s bid to open a driving school in a house at 1107 N. Second Ave.
Bagby said there were too many unanswered questions, and he felt strongly that the issue should be revisited at a later date.
The block is zoned for heavy industrial use, but there are several occupied homes that pre-date the Unified Land Development Code. Several commissioners questioned the parking provisions and the potential disruption.
Additionally, a concrete plant lies to the west and south of the parcel, and granting commercial zoning to the tract would create stricter buffer requirements for any future industrial development on the block.
Commissioners Duane Reid, Buzz Wachsteter and Kim Canada voted with Bagby against the rezoning.
In favor were Doss and Commissioners Evie McNiece, Milton Slack III and Sue Lee. Commissioner Bill Collins was absent.
The board unanimously approved Fellowship Baptist Church’s request for office-institutional zoning for several parcels it owns around its main building at 314 Burnett Ferry Road.
Commissioners also approved Will Byington’s request for residential zoning of a tract at 101 Bells Ferry Road.
A smaller adjacent parcel that abuts the Nissan dealership on Veterans Memorial Highway was reclassified as community commercial property.
Canada also announced that the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission would host a May 18 forum for small business owners interested in bidding for state contracts.
Representatives of state agencies will be at the Jackson Hill headquarters from 10 a.m. to noon to enroll local product and service providers on the qualified contractor list. Canada said the forum would be repeated if the demand warrants.
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