Well, actually, the city didnât really have a quota.
For class A liquor licensesâthe sort issued to retailers that sell packaged alcohol for consumption elsewhereâthe city had a quota of 19. That is based on a formula of one such license for every 3,500 city residents.
Except the city had granted 25 such liquor licenses based on a 2014 ordinance amendment allowing the council to exceed the quota â⦠when issuance of a license would expand the trade impact of an existing business, or promote redevelopment of an underutilized commercial property or establishment of a new business within the community â¦â
The result was the city being six over its own limit.
JANESVILLE
Janesville has ended its quota on the number of liquor stores the city can have, but city officials still have the power to deny new store applications.
The city councilâs action Monday night to end the quota on class A liquor licenses could bring a different kind of store to Janesville, however, said city Economic Development Director Gale Price.
Price said if warehouse retailers such as Binnyâs Beverage Depot or Total Wine & More were looking to expand, they might have skipped Janesville because of the quota.
These large-scale retailers offer a range of products not available elsewhere in Janesville, Price said.