ORLANDO, Fla. — On Monday, the Orlando City Council moved forward with a potential extension to the moratorium on new nightclubs downtown. A first reading of the proposal passed unanimously.

The current moratorium has been in place for almost a year now and is set to end March 20.

A second reading of the ordinance will be held next month, ahead of the deadline. If it is approved, the moratorium would be extended through Sept. 20.

The proposed extension is to give city leaders more time to research and do additional outreach on how to best support nightclubs and the growing residency and visitation in the City Beautiful’s downtown area.

Officials say one reason for the pause on nightclub development is safety and security. Some of these reasons include large crowds, noise, and public intoxication that are associated with them.

Another mention was the lack of activity downtown during the daytime, since nightclubs are typically only open at night.

The authorities implemented the moratorium last March and then extended it in September after six months.

The pause also came with other restrictions, including existing club owners to have a permit to sell alcohol after midnight, I.D. scanner requirements, and added security or law enforcement outside of the establishment.

Since then, Corona Cigar Company manager Christian Waldron says he’s seen a difference in the nightlife downtown.

“I’d say definitely within the past year, things have calmed down a bit,” he said. “Around that August time last year, they were really cracking down. I think it could be a good thing but again with people emptying out their pockets for security every so often and having more of a population down here, I think people will get annoyed, but sometimes you just have to deal with it.”

Some businesses were even required to add metal detectors.

This all stems from a shooting that left seven people injured in July 2022.