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Local News

June 26, 2009

Local man asks to sell alcohol at festival

Karen Brady

Curtis Hart may find out today if he can sell you alcoholic beverages at the July 4th music festival at the Muscle Car Ranch.

Chickasha City Council members will meet in special session at 4 p.m. this afternoon to consider Hart’s application for a use-on-review permit. Hart sought the permit in the past, but council members denied the request even though the City Planning Commission recommended it be approved.

In 2007, Hart secured a national sponsor through Budweiser and challenged the city’s decision in District Court. The court overturned the city’s denial, saying Hart was “properly zoned for the sale and consumption of alcohol on his premises.”

Hart was then allowed to sell beer at the 2007 July 4 music festival.

However, the case went to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which upheld the city’s decision to deny th e Use-On-Review permit allowing th e sale of 3.2 beer. Hart is now resubmitting the Use-On-Review application.



On his application, Hart wrote noted that he oversees the events at the Muscle Car Ranch as much as he can and does not allow coolers or outside alcohol to be brought on the premises. He reasons that by selling beer using an armband system, he can better control alcohol consumption.

“In 30 years of doing these types of events, we have yet to have a police report from this or any other issue to my knowledge,” Hart wrote on the application.

Said Shelton: “It’s a good event and I wish him well. We haven’t ever had significant issues out there. It’s good for the community as long as it is a controlled environment.”

Shelton said Hart will need five favorable votes to win, no matter how many council members attend the meeting.

The community development director wrote in a memo to planning commission members that his staff has received one phone call from an area resident who is not in favor of Hart’s request.

Hart could not be reached for comment.

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