Aug. 13 ― Last chance! Speak Out Against Liquor Store
Community advocacy is making a difference
The application for a Special Land Use Permit—required for the proposed liquor store—goes before the Board of Commissioners Aug. 13, 5:30 pm. The meeting is in person at 178 Sams Street, Decatur.
The overwhelming opposition to a liquor store led to unanimous recommendations for denial at both the Community Council and the Planning Commission.
If you can't make the meeting, please send an email to:
Commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson, District 5, mdjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov
Commissioner LaDena Bolton, District 7, labolton@dekalbcountyga.gov
We ask for responsible development that better serves our community. A liquor store would be a blight on our community’s vision of economic diversity and prosperity. We have too many liquor stores, beauty shops, dollar stores, and auto-related businesses. We deserve a variety of businesses that cater to a wide array of interests and necessities.
Background:
There are 22 liquor stores within five miles of this location, shown below. (Data from ESRI Business Analyst, May 2026)
A study commissioned by DeKalb County and conducted by the Georgia State University Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, shows " ....after controlling for population, race, and poverty, each additional liquor store in a census tract was associated with:
· 61.3% more total reported crime
· 50.5% more violent crime
· 68.5% more property crime
· 57% more public-order crime
This study was the foundation for passage of an ordinance that passed May 23, 2017 that set strict spacing requirements, zoning distance buffers, and temporary development moratoria on businesses such as liquor stores, pawn shops, check-cashing establishments, convenience stores/gas stations, fast-food restaurants, and auto-repair shops. These businesses were associated with associated with an average $13,519 reduction in median assessed residential property value, according to the study.
This isn't a fight against existing businesses, but a plea for balance. We welcome many types of new businesses. In the spring, the community responded to a Planning Department survey and overwhelmingly asked for more cafes and restaurants (no fast food), high quality grocery stores, a variety of retail options, entertainment venues, and professional services. We encourage developers to consider the demand for higher-end businesses in our area. They could capture the dollars we spend in Decatur, Avondale Estates, Tucker, and north DeKalb.