Group Wants to Wash Away Frisco's Remaining Dry Areas

A group of Frisco taxpayers and business owners wants a vote on whether to allow beer and wine sales in the city's north part.

Since 2002, the vast majority of the city has been "damp" -- meaning one can buy beer and wine, but not hard liquor. But people cannot purchase beer or wine in up to 10 percent of Frisco.

In the past decade, the city has grown to include more land. Now, three pockets of land are still legally dry, said Tony Felker, president of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce.

"These were just areas of the city of Frisco that were not annexed during the 2002 election," he said.

A group called Frisco Taxpayers for More Tax Dollars wants to update the city's alcohol ordinances to allow the sale of beer and wine in stores and the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants.

Its petition needs the signatures of 8,000 registered Frisco voters to get on the ballot.

"Awareness, absolutely, is the biggest challenge," Bergman said.

The group said economic development is one of its main concerns.

The pieces of dry land sit below Highway 380, an area that has been discussed as the site of a future shopping mall project.

But some worry that the current alcohol ordinance could keep bars and restaurants away when it or other developments proceed.

"I'm a small business, and I could see the effect, let alone [on] a larger business, a chain," said Heidi Cushing, owner of Sertino's in Frisco.

Taxpayers for More Tax Dollars plans to go door-to-door looking for signatures to bring the issue to a vote in May.