ALAMOSA — In a 4-1 vote Wednesday night the Alamosa city council directed City Attorney Erich Schwiesow to draw up findings in support of a hotel restaurant liquor license for Locavores, a fast-casual restaurant at 2209 Main Street.

Stating he did not believe the applicants proved a need for another liquor license and the city already had too many liquor establishments, Councilman David Broyles voted against the motion. Approving the license for Locavores will bring the total number of liquor licenses in Alamosa to 45. Broyles said other liquor license applicants have provided petitions showing residents’ desire to have the liquor license, but applicants Wendi and Matthew Seger did not.

“I would like to see that there is a need,” he said. “I don’t think that’s clearly established.”

He said he was also concerned about the restaurant’s proximity to a school. The restaurant meets the distance requirements from a school.

Petitions are not a requirement for applicants, Schwiesow pointed out. What is required, he said, is for the applicants to show a need and desire in the “neighborhood” (city limits plus a mile radius) for the liquor license.

Wendi Seger told the council she and her husband opened Locavores in September 2016 and feel the restaurant since that time has filled a niche in providing quality healthy from-scratch food served fast. She added that they felt they were at a place in their business where they would like to serve alcohol with meals, especially during the evening dinner hours. She said they planned to start with bottled drinks and have been in discussions with several breweries to feature those types of drinks, in addition to Coors and wine.

She said they have received phone calls, especially from tourists, asking if the restaurant serves alcohol. Last summer the restaurant probably received these kinds of inquiries every other day, she said.

She said alcohol is common with fast casual restaurants across the nation.

The Segers plan to include the outdoor patio area in addition to the building itself under the license, but their initial site drawing submitted with their application did not include the patio. Alamosa City Clerk Holly Martinez said the state is still in the process of accumulating and reviewing documents so the application could possibly be amended to include the patio area before the state’s final approval.

Matthew Seger said although they did not provide a petition in favor of the license, “we feel we are benefitting the community.” He said Locavores draws a number of tourists, and the staff talk to them about activities they can do in the San Luis Valley.

Wendi Seger said it would be disappointing if the city council approved liquor licenses for corporate restaurants in the neighborhood like Chili’s but did not approve one for a local business. She added that if she had known a petition would be a point of contention, she would have gotten a bunch of signatures.

Councilman Michael Carson said although he did not like alcohol, he understood that it would benefit this business, and the applicants deserved a shot at having a liquor license.

Councilor Kristina Daniel said she would agree the city had enough liquor licenses if this application was for a liquor store. A restaurant has a different impact, she said. She added she wished the council had seen more input from the local community regarding the license application. She said she supported the license, as it would benefit a local business.

Councilman Jan Vigil said he would have liked a petition in support of the application. However, he supported he application. He said people visiting in the area want fresh meals from locally grown food, and serving alcohol would probably draw more customers and benefit the business.

Mayor Pro Tem Liz Hensley, who ran the March 20th meeting in the absence of Mayor Ty Coleman, favored giving the local restaurant the same competitive chance as corporate establishments. “I support this,” she said.

Hensley added that it would be important for the restaurant owners to train their staff in liquor license compliance.

No one else spoke during the public hearing Wednesday.