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Orlando city leaders push discussion of new plan to limit nightclubs in downtown

New, expanding nightclubs would need to be 300 feet away from existing clubs

ORLANDO, Fla. – Members of the Orlando Municipal Planning Board will discuss a new permanent plan next month to limit the number of nightclubs in downtown.

The board met Tuesday but could not approve the motion and set a new discussion date for June 18.

“We are not looking to eliminate nightclubs downtown, just the over-concentration of nightclubs in downtown,” City of Orlando Project Planner Tim McClendon said.

The city put a moratorium last year blocking the opening of any new bars and nightclubs in downtown and then extended the ban until September 2024.

However, the new proposal would require any new or expanding nightclubs to be at least 300 feet away from the existing nightclub.

The rules would only apply to clubs within the downtown entertainment area from Colonial Drive to SR-408 with Hughey on the western boundary and Rosalind and Magnolia on the east side.

McClendon said suggesting 300 feet would allow for one nightclub to operate per block within the Downtown Entertainment District and help minimize overcrowding.

Though several club owners are not happy with the idea.

“We have a real concern that this is the beginning of an attempt to get all nightclubs in downtown Orlando closed by 12 instead of two and that would be a real problem,” said Dennis Wallis, an attorney representing nightclub owner.

The current moratorium was put into place following several shootings in the downtown area and other safety concerns.


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