The Daily Egyptian commends the Carbondale City Council for proving at its July 6 meeting that it recognizes the importance of progress and the need to occasionally make an exception to a rule.

Despite protest from numerous Carbondale landlords, council members rezoned land south of the University for construction of a student-targeted apartment complex. This complex is a much-needed asset to the community and is a boost for student life.

Now it’s time for the council to carry that progress a step further.

The Egyptian encourages the council, acting as the Liquor Control Commission, to reject the recommendation of the Liquor Advisory Board and award a Class B-2 liquor license for a dance club and sports bar on Illinois Avenue.

Matt Maier, owner of Mugsy McGuire’s, a successful restaurant, bar and gameroom at 1620 W. Main St., wants to open a dance club and sports bar at 315 S. Illinois Ave., the former home of T.J. McFly’s, Merlin’s and a paint ball facility.

LAB members voted five to three July 1 to recommend denial of the liquor license to Maier, citing crowd control concerns and setting the wrong precedent for issuing future liquor licenses.

In citing a crowd control problem, city manager Jeff Doherty said crowds may spill out onto Illinois Avenue at closing time. The Egyptian would like to point out that three other bars already exist in the general location of 315 S. Illinois Ave. Booby’s, PK’s and the Cellar and to our knowledge, crowds from these establishments do not spill out onto the strip at closing time.

Additionally, wouldn’t it be an asset for crowds of bar patrons to be spread out along the length of Illinois Avenue instead of bottled up mostly in the 400 and 500 blocks of the street? The existing bars on Illinois Avenue often are so crowded, patrons spill out into the road because there is nowhere else to go. From a safety standpoint, it seems more logical for police to want patrons more spread out.

Doherty also said during the meeting that making exceptions is very dangerous. We disagree. Making an exception in this case indicates city officials are willing to consider an appeal from a man who is known citywide for responsible business practices and for turning Mugsy McGuire’s into a popular, successful entertainment venue.

If city officials don’t want to make exceptions in the future, they don’t have to. That’s their prerogative as elected officials. But don’t deny Maier this opportunity solely because of the danger involved in making exceptions.

The Egyptian also would like to point out the property at 315 S. Illinois Ave., which has been empty since 1997, is an eyesore to the downtown area. And surely a thriving sports bar/dance club would do more for property values in that area than an empty run-down building.

Furthermore, non-alcoholic establishments historically have failed at 315 S. Illinois Ave., and the lack of parking in that area is not conducive to much else but a sports bar or dance club that caters primarily to Carbondale’s student population.

LAB members said repeatedly at their meeting that if anyone can create a successful business at 315 S. Illinois Ave., it’s Maier. He’s willing to take a gamble who is the city to prevent him from that opportunity?

And how long do we keep the cap on Illinois Avenue liquor licenses? The cap was introduced because of violence on the Strip, which was reasonable at the time. There is a different atmosphere on the Strip now, and that cap serves only to prevent entrepreneurs from taking a crack at business on Illinois Avenue.

According to city clerk Janet Vaught, the City Council has never gone against a LAB recommendation, to her knowledge. If ever there was a time or a need for an exception to a rule, this is it. The mere fact that the LAB vote was so close, five to three, warrants further consideration from council members.

The Daily Egyptian encourages the members of the Carbondale City Council to make an exception to the cap on Class B-2 liquor licenses on Illinois Avenue, and allow Maier to proceed with plans for what surely will be a successful sports bar and dance club in downtown Carbondale.