Later bar hours! Food trucks! Councilman unveils legislation to change Atlanta - possibly the world? - forever!

Kwanza Hall wants bars open until 4 a.m., looser restrictions on mobile cuisine

Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall last night decided to introduce not one, but two pieces of legislation that, if passed, could bring smiles to some intowners’ faces — and cause others, particularly those who frown on the late-night bar scene, to break out the protest signs. He wants to see later bar hours for revelers — think 4 a.m. — and more freedom and options for food truck operators and enthusiasts.

Hall, who represents downtown, Old Fourth Ward and Castleberry Hill, among other vibrant neighborhoods, yesterday made clear he plans to revisit one of his pet projects: Later bar hours, which he says would give the city’s nightlife a shot in the arm while also boosting tax revenues.

In late 2009, just as new leadership was preparing to move into City Hall, the councilman introduced legislation to roll back bar hours. He later agreed to fight another day. Seven months later, he and Councilman Michael Julian Bond proposed a pilot program that would allow bars along Edgewood and Auburn avenues to stay open longer. That proposal stalled, or so we heard, because of concerns that singling out one neighborhood or street could open the city to a legal challenge.

Under the proposal the councilman introduced last night, bars across the city would be able to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. Should his colleagues OK the measure, licensed establishments could sell alcohol between the hours of 9 a.m. until 4 a.m. the following morning on Monday through Friday. On Saturday, they could pour between 9 a.m. and 2:55 a.m. the following morning. Sunday hours would stay the same. Here’s a PDF copy of Hall’s bar-hours legislation.

We’ve heard that the effort will most likely try to piggyback on Councilman Bond’s recent proposal to re-examine the city’s license review board and alcohol ordinances — a move that already caused some critics of late-night bar hours to start biting their nails about revisiting the always-heated debate of longer pouring times. UPDATE, 2:50 p.m.: Here’s a PDF copy of Bond’s legislation, which passed yesterday. He amended the paper to explicitly prohibit discussion of rolling back bar hours.

The second piece of legislation removes many restrictions on food trucks operating on private property and surface-parking lots. Among them: The distance requirement between food trucks and establishments serving a simliar menu would reduce from 1,500 feet to 200 feet. Food trucks could also operate as early as 5 a.m. and as late as 2 a.m. Those interested in the proposal’s specifics can view ‘em here as a PDF.

UPDATE, 11:42 a.m.: Says Greg Smith of the Atlanta Street Food Coalition, who worked with Hall and his staff on the legislation, via email:

I am thrilled with language here in the paper. If we can get this legislation through, it will mean that food trucks, trailers, and carts can finally operate at multiple private property locations throughout the city (up until now, trucks have been limited to just one location in the city - except when they are taking part in a special event).