Opinion ID: 1953281
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: criteria and burden of proof

Text: It is next asserted by West A Liquor that the district court erred in affirming the commission's decision because the commission did not properly consider the appropriate criteria and because J Mart did not carry its burden to prove that the requested license is required by the present or future public need. The city and protestants first urge that the commission chairperson's statement demonstrates that the commission abdicated its responsibility and did not consider the required statutory criteria. However, we have previously noted that as statements made reflecting the reasons behind a commissioner's vote were not part of the record considered by the commission, they did not constitute part of the record before us. Hy-Vee Food Stores v. Nebraska Liquor Control Comm., 242 Neb. 752, 497 N.W.2d 647 (1993). Thus, in order for West A Liquor's argument to have merit, it is the record as a whole which must show that the commissioners as a group failed to consider the statutory criteria for issuance of a license. We therefore move on to determine whether the record so establishes. Notwithstanding that § 53-132 was amended by L.B. 183, for the reasons discussed earlier, the 1984 version controls this assignment of error. In that regard, we have previously held that where an applicant has a history of operating licensed premises in a lawful manner, the conditions specified in § 53-132(2)(a) through (c) (Reissue 1984) are satisfied. American Drug Stores v. City of Lincoln, 243 Neb. 548, 501 N.W.2d 278 (1993); Kivik Shop, supra; Hy-Vee Food Stores, supra . In this case, the record indicates that J Mart has operated licensed retail alcohol premises without a violation since 1983. Therefore, § 53-132(2)(a) through (c) (Reissue 1984) is satisfied. The remaining element is proof that issuance of the license is or will be required by the present or future public convenience and necessity. An applicant for a liquor license has the burden of showing this element. American Drug Stores, supra . With the exception of § 53-132(3)(a) (Reissue 1984), every consideration listed militates in J Mart's favor. Although there were protests against issuance of J Mart's license, most were forwarded by those with a business interest adverse to J Mart's. Moreover, there were as many letters and petition signatories in favor of the application as there were against it. There is nothing in the record which would indicate that issuance of the license would be adverse to current zoning restrictions or sanitation of the premises. The projected growth of the city does not weigh against issuance of the license, nor is the nature of the neighborhood contrary to issuance. In addition, the type of business to be operated in conjunction with the license is consistent with the public interest. We do not overlook that included in the record is a letter in opposition to the issuance of all new liquor licenses, signed by the former chief of police of Lincoln. But we have previously found such evidence to be of no probative value with respect to the issue of whether issuance of a specific license is in the public interest. See, Whitehead Oil Co. v. City of Lincoln, 243 Neb. 312, 498 N.W.2d 793 (1993); Hy-Vee Food Stores, supra . We have similarly rejected evidence of blanket claims of adequate service by existing licensees similar to those forwarded by the city and protestants in this case as not being probative. See, Whitehead Oil Co., supra ; B & R Stores v. Nebraska Liquor Control Comm., 242 Neb. 763, 497 N.W.2d 654 (1993); Hy-Vee Food Stores, supra . The city and protestants did offer testimony claiming that the existing motor vehicle traffic in the area around J Mart's gas pump island was congested. However, J Mart rebutted this evidence with an aerial photograph showing that traffic in that area was not congested. The only consideration which weighs against J Mart's application is that the local governing body recommended denial of the application. However, the reasons given for the recommendation are essentially similar to those we have previously rejected. Arbitrary and conclusory claims that the existing and future population of Lincoln is inadequate to support issuance is of no value to our inquiry. See B & R Stores, supra . Although the city as the local governing body claimed that issuance of a license to J Mart is incompatible with the nature of the neighborhood, two other liquor licenses have previously been issued to premises in the same mall. Finally, the conclusory statement that `public convenience and necessity would not indicate that this license should be issued' is as little help to our inquiry as it was in other cases. B & R Stores, 242 Neb. at 767, 497 N.W.2d at 657. Therefore, not only does the record not show that the commissioners as a group failed to properly consider the appropriate criteria, the record on de novo review convinces us that J Mart sustained its burden of proof. Consequently, this assignment of error fails.