FL H1497

Amends Chapter 87-471, Laws of Florida, to expand the number of designated special alcoholic beverage license zones in downtown Jacksonville and surrounding neighborhoods from the original list to 9 areas: Northside West, Northside East, Southbank, Riverside Avondale Urban Transition Area, Riverside Avondale Commercial Character Areas (#1–#9), Murray Hill Commercial Area, Springfield Commercial Area, San Marco Transportation Corridor, and Kings Avenue Commercial Corridor

Four new zones are added: Murray Hill Commercial Area, Springfield Commercial Area, San Marco Transportation Corridor, and Kings Avenue Commercial Corridor, each defined by detailed parcel-level legal descriptions referencing specific lots, blocks, plat books, and subdivision records in Duval County

The Kings Avenue Commercial Corridor is defined as all lands fronting on Kings Avenue between Prudential Drive and Atlantic Boulevard

Overrides the general alcoholic beverage quota limitations in s. 561.20(1), Florida Statutes, authorizing the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco to issue special licenses to qualifying establishments within the designated zones

For Southbank, Riverside Avondale Urban Transition Area, Riverside Avondale Commercial Character Areas, Murray Hill, Springfield, and San Marco, special licenses are available to bona fide restaurants with accommodations for 100 or more patrons, at least 1,800 square feet of floor space, full course meal service, and at least 51% of gross income derived from on-premises food sales

Northside West and Northside East are removed from the larger-restaurant license category and reassigned along with Kings Avenue Commercial Corridor to a new, less restrictive license category for smaller food service establishments

The new smaller-establishment category requires capacity for only 50 or more persons, a minimum of 1,000 square feet of service area, and at least 51% of gross food and beverage revenue from food and nonalcoholic beverage sales

All special alcoholic beverage licenses issued under the act remain subject to local zoning requirements and applicable state alcoholic beverage laws and division rules

The act takes effect upon becoming a law