Steinbach council approves liquor store

A Steinbach developer has been given the green light to open a liquor store in the long-dry Manitoba community.

Steinbach's city council voted 4-2 Tuesday night in favour of the proposal, which would see a liquor store open on Main Street in the city of 11,000 southeastof Winnipeg.

Abe Heibert, who voted against the motion, argues that councillors should not have to deal with individual developers on the matter. The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission should come forward to ask for permission for stores to open, rather than their owners, he said.

"We now have granted permission to one developer, which could result in the fact that we could have another three, four, maybe five developers coming in and applying for a conditional use as well," he said.

"That, of course, means that we have to deal with it anywhere from three to five times, instead of dealing with it once."

The developer must now approach the MLCC for permission to open the store.

Steinbach voters opted to lift a ban on alcohol sales in the community in 2003, after more than 30 years as a "dry" community.