Officials 7-5 in favor: Supporters of the draft policy said it gives council more control than it has with the current conditional use permitting process. A cap would replace that with a simple yes-or-no vote whenever someone wants the number raised. Opponents called that government overreach and said the decision should be market-based.

Business owner pushes back: The owner of JT's Tavern & Tap told the council that gaming income helps him keep menu prices down and fund community sponsorships, including roughly $20,000 donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital over the past three years.

New setback rules: Officials agreed on a 100-foot buffer from schools and religious institutions, replacing a state regulation that's been interpreted inconsistently in the past. Officials left out parks and libraries, since including them would have affected several existing licensed businesses, including East China Inn, Riverside Pizza, Overflow, Gammon Coach House, and JT's.

Existing licenses carryover: Business owners argued that limiting grandfathered status to a single ownership transfer would significantly reduce the resale value of the business. Officials discussed an alternative to avoid hurting existing businesses, where gaming rights could continue through ownership changes as long as the operation doesn't sit closed for more than a year.