Chattanooga Police Officer John Collins told the Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board on Thursday a zoning ordinance allows establishments in the central business district to sell beer without having to meet distance requirements from schools and churches. The central business district, he said, extends from the Aquarium to at least Main Street.

The distance requirement was raised by a board member because of much discussion on local Talk Radio and online media. Officer Collins said the ordinance is what allows establishments like Blue Orleans at the corner of Market and Main streets to sell beer despite being across the street from Battle Academy (a public elementary school).

After hearing the explanation, the board approved a motion to grant The Terminal Brew House at 6 East 14th St. a license for consumer and carry-out beer sales.

The Terminal Brew House is planning to open this weekend in the old Ternimal Hotel next to the Chattanooga Choo Choo after extensive remodeling to the historic building.

In another matter, several representatives of Deep Blue, a night club in Brainerd, asked to address the board. Speaking for the group, Floyd Kilpatrick said he wanted to address the matter of a tow truck operator and an off-duty Chattanooga Police officer having a confrontation outside the club over the weekend.

Mr. Kilpatrick wanted to know how to lodge a complaint against the towing company because he said he felt the tow truck operator acted inappropriately in that instance.

Officer Collins asked the board if he could address the issue and the board agreed to let him answer.

Officer Collins said the towing company in question is All About Towing. All About Towing is not on the city of Chattanooga wrecker rotation list, he said, and therefore does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board.

Board member J. Frederick Weinhold said at one time all wrecker companies in the city were under the board’s jurisdiction, but a lawsuit was filed and now only those wrecker companies that do business with the city of Chattanooga can be held accountable by the board.

Mr. Kilpatrick asked where he might lodge a complaint against All About Towing. Officer Collins said the company is licensed by the state of Tennessee and he could file a complaint with the state or the Better Business Bureau.

Mr. Kilpatrick claimed that besides the incident over the weekend with the police officer, there have been other instances where the wrecker company has acted inappropriately.

A neighboring business, he said, has hired by All About Towing to tow the cars of Deep Blue patrons if they park on that lot.

He pointed to a woman in the room and said she asked the tow truck operator if she could park there. She was told yes. When she came out of Deep Blue later, she found her car had been towed by the wrecker company. “That’s just not right,” Mr. Kilpatrick said.

The board thanked Mr. Kilpatrick for his concern and encouraged him to follow up with his complaint.

Other applications for consumer or carry-out beer licenses were approved for:

Steve Daniel McCoy

The Low Down (Consumer)

306 Cherokee Blvd.

Maulik Patel

Tobacco & Beer Outlet (Carry-out)

3627 Cummings Highway (change of location from 3450 Cummings Highway)

Rachel Conn

Hawthorne & Main Grocery (Consumer)

1800 East Main Street

Scott Adams

Deep Bistro, LLC (Consumer/Carry-out)

Tallen Building

Two Union Square

One special event license was approved for:

Ashley Evans

The AIM Center

Winter Fundraiser at The Loose Cannon Gallery

1800 Rossville Avenue

February 5, 2009 (6 p.m. to 11 p.m.)