A bylaw that outlines the proximity of liquor stores that can be opened in non-mature neighbourhoods got a double shot of debate at Monday’s city council public hearing.

Council voted to adopt a change proposed by city planners that exempts “commercial power centres” — large commercial sites like strip malls or big box areas — from a bylaw that limits the number of liquor stores within 500-metres of each other.

Proponents of the change, including a representative from Costco Wholesale Canada, said developers were applying for the liquor permits and stalling on the development or simply carrying limited stock in order to eliminate competition in the area.

The original rule was put in place in 2007 to keep downtown neighbourhoods from being saturated with liquor stores. The change won’t affect mature neighbourhoods, so the initial goal isn’t totally lost.

Opponents, however, gave a range of reasons to turn it down, including the fact that big box stores would now control markets where community shops might want to enter.

“For me, the biggest concern was going forward,” said David Owens, owner of Sherbrooke Liquor. “They’re setting a precedent right now when you start making changes to these bylaws, it potentially opens up a move further into this bylaw at a future date.”

He said the beneficiaries of the change are going to be the big box stores and that could mean harder times ahead for smaller, community-owned shops and alcohol producers that don’t sell through the larger chains.

“The more that these discount stores come in and drive down prices — at times they will come in and sell product for less money than I can purchase it for — the more they drive down the margin, the less money I have to spread around,” said Owens, whose shop has made a name for itself carrying Alberta-produced beers and spirits along with larger brand names.

Lawyer Robert Noce, who advocated for the original rules while on council in 2007, was there to represent the Alberta Liquor Store Association.

“The current rules before these amendments were adopted allowed any liquor store operator to seek a variance on the 500-metre rule,” Noce said following the decision to amend the rules. “The process would have engaged the community and allowed the community a voice at a subdivision and development appeal board hearing. Today’s decision eliminates the voice of the community.”

“The real loss is the voice of the community and I was surprised that council would not have placed more weight on the community,” he said.

dlazzarino@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/SUNDaveLazz