ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando City Council approved a first reading limiting bars downtown on Monday.
If passed after another public hearing, bars would be required to not be located closer than 300 feet from another.
City staff told commissioners places like Tampa and Miami Beach have similar bar bans in place in their nightlife districts.
Commissioner Tony Ortiz was the only member to vote no.
“Let me put this first: I’m all for diversity downtown. We need more cafes, shops, restaurants. I also understand for property owners. For them, I think we need to really establish a plan,” Ortiz said. “We can do this by bringing in more cameras, cameras that could also assist on facial and tag reads, every person coming in and out of a parking lot. Private parking lots, I’m sure because I’ve talked to a lot of the owners; they are willing to also get involved in this.”
The push by the city comes after an increase in crime downtown after lockdowns from the pandemic were lifted.
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A ban on new bars that is currently in place is set to expire in September.
In June, the city’s downtown area saw 144 arrests, 24 guns seized, 353 parking lot disturbances, and 22 reported fights.
Commissioner Ortiz says increasing surveillance downtown can help deter crime.
City staff also showed the council a map of 48 bars downtown. Under the new policy, bars closer than 300 feet will be grandfathered in.
“I think a lot of this can be done through technology. Through cameras, putting up signs. Someone coming with thoughts of committing a crime, when they know there are cameras all over the place, it can deter whatever that person was thinking,” Ortiz said.
A final vote is set for Aug. 12.
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