An amendment to Walker County, Georgia's alcohol ordinance would allow businesses to sell beer and wine within 300 feet of a church.
Commissioner Shannon Whitfield said the amendment was introduced as a business-friendly change that would mirror a state law implemented a couple of years ago.
A few Walker County residents spoke out against the change at Thursday's public hearing, saying it would set a bad example for allowing packaged alcohol stores or taverns to operate so close to a place of worship.
Rick Tallent, a pastor in Walker County said Whitfield was trying to rush the process, as the commission made the notice of a public hearing around the holidays.
Tallent also said at the hearing that he doubted any pastor in Walker County would be in favor of the change.
Walker County Economic Development Director Robert Wardlaw said the change was made in large part after owners of the restaurant Five Points Farm House reached out and said they felt hampered by the county rule that prohibited them from selling alcohol.
The restaurant is located about 20 yards from Chickamauga city limits and just under 300 feet from a nearby church.
Wardlaw said the amendment gives private businesses more freedom to operate how they see fit while also following state laws already on the books.
Linda and Ken Davis were also against the idea, saying it would be inappropriate for a packaged liquor store to open up next to a church.
Ken Davis said he didn't think Whitfield was "dumb enough to try this in the next two to three weeks," alluding that Whitfield could lose his seat as commissioner because of the amendment.
Davis also accused Wardlaw of trying to push the amendment for personal gain. Wardlaw and his management business are in the process of building a restaurant in LaFayette.
The LaFayette City Council already passed an ordinance amendment to match the state's law. Wardlaw and Whitfield told Davis that because the restaurant is in LaFayette city limits, the ordinance change in Walker County wouldn't affect Wardlaw's future project.
The second and final public hearing for the amendment will be Jan. 23 at the Walker County Administrative Building in LaFayette.
Contact Patrick Filbin at pfilbin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickFilbin.