The opening of several electronic gaming operations in Fuquay-Varina in recent months has prompted the town board to initiate steps toward amending zoning ordinances to regulate where such stores could be located, what hours they could stay open and parking space requirements and signage.

The proposed amendment also contains specific distance requirements between electronic gaming stores and churches, schools, parks, residential districts and others and hours of operation. It would prohibit the sale of alcohol at the gaming stores or the location of a store within 1,000 feet of an establishment that has on-premises alcohol sales.

After discussing at the May 3 meeting an amendment drawn up by the planning department, board members went into closed session with the town attorney, then returned to approve a motion to move forward with the amendment proposal.

It will be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Board. That board’s recommendation will be returned to the board of commissioners. A public hearing will then be scheduled, followed by a final board vote.

When Planning Director Mike Sorensen outlined the amendment’s requirements for board members, he said the stores will have to be located in highway commercial districts only. And he said he thinks “You will find very few spaces . . .” that qualify. He explained that the video gaming businesses will be allowed, for the most part, on the outskirts of town, on major highways.

The three stores already in business here are all fronting on Highway 401. Each is in a shopping center with other stores.

After their closed-session meeting with the attorney, commissioners also asked the planning department to look into a zoning ordinance in Apex used by that town to declare a moratorium on issuing licenses to electronic gaming stores while the town worked out some requirements relating to them.

When owners of the three such stores in Fuquay-Varina sought to purchase privilege licenses to operate their businesses in town, they learned that the town has no category for stores of this type. So each bought a license in the category of business services. All three advertise that they do faxing, scanning and other such services as well as selling internet time for those who might want to play on-line Sweepstakes games in which they may win money.

Since the three obtained their licenses, the town has established a privilege license category for the electronic gaming businesses and set the price at $500, up from the $30 they paid for initial privilege licenses. Privilege licenses must be renewed each year.