Does Royal Oak Need A Few More Bars? Neighbors Air Concerns

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - Will the Royal Oak City Commission approve four more liquor licenses?

That's the issue on the table at a public hearing Monday evening.

Among a group of Royal Oak neighbors who have been speaking out on the topic is Theresa Nielsen, who planned to be at the meeting to voice her concerns about allowing more bars in the city.

Talking to WWJ Newsradio 950, Nielsen said there are already far too many bars in Royal Oak's central business district; and what the city needs, she said, is more retail stores.

"They're having a hard time getting retail because the rent is so darn high, retail has to make so much more money in order to stay in business," she said. "The bars can afford these high rents, and we've had 16 retail businesses leave town the past, probably a couple of months."

Nielsen said bars are creeping closer and closer to residential areas, bringing more traffic and noise.

She said she and her neighbors don't want to see any additional "activities in the evening when people have too much drink," and police are so busy fighting crime around downtown bars, she's concerned officers won't be available if needed in residential neighborhoods.

"For crying out loud, if this passes it'll just give them fodder to have more of them come further down the street," Nielsen said. "We don't like it; we don't like it one bit."

"When will too many be enough, is the problem," she added. "We have far more than Detroit."