proposed convenient store legislation

Some Utica residents say some of these stores are attracting the wrong type of element.

For a committee of the whole meeting to discuss convenience store legislation put forth before the common council.

By the time the meeting was done, there were still more questions than answers...its your top story on this monday night.

The purpose of the proposed legislation is to give the city of uticregatory control over certain types of businesses.

Namely convenient stores.

They want to make sure these stores do not have a negative impact on the neighborhoods they are located in.

Residents have voiced concerns that some of these businesses...not all though... are attracting criminal activities that are endangering the health and safety of nearby residents.

Some council members questioned how the proposal would be enforced, saying the legislation could place barriers on people trying to open good standing businesses.

"i think this is where the problem lies.

After dark, people are hanging around these corners at most of these stores.

In my opinion there should be a 10 o'clock cut off for all these inner-city stores.

That's it."

"my problem with that is that you could potentially limit economic development.

Let's say i want ot open a corner store near utica college or mvcc.

If i'm a legitimate business open to midnight, maybe on the weekends, i can see a scenario where that's beneficial to college students."

In the end it was decided to send the proposed legislation back so modifications requested by council members could be made.

All local school districts are back in business now...and they