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The College Park City Council approved a plan Tuesday night to buy and demolish a local liquor store to make room for a city park, but not without vehement opposition from some council members.

The council voted, 5-3, to authorize City Manager Joe Nagro to begin negotiations to acquire and tear down Number 1 Liquors at 8200 Baltimore Ave., next to the University View student housing complex. If the city cannot reach an agreement with property owner Annette Sargent, it would have the option of condemning the property.

"It's hard to argue that that business is contributing to high-quality retail," said Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich (Dist. 3). "Putting a park there would have a significant impact on improving the appearance and quality of our Route 1 corridor."

Sargent's attorney, Richard Daniels, said he and his client were unaware of the city's intentions prior to the council's vote. He declined to say whether Sargent would consider selling the property, but said the city would have trouble legally justifying condemnation if a deal isn't reached.

"The store has been there for ages. The University View and the other properties have come to it," Daniels said. "If the city wants to negotiate with Ms. Sargent, the city should come to Ms. Sargent directly."

While several council members said the park would be a welcome addition to a city that they consider overrun with liquor stores, others argued the move could set a bad precedent for future business relations.

"It's not that I don't want a more beautiful Route 1," said Councilwoman Mary Cook (Dist. 4). "But you can't chase a business out of the city and then say that you want to attract new businesses."

The city will use $300,000 formerly allotted to renovating Duvall Field toward buying the property, said Mayor Stephen Brayman. While Cook and Councilman Jack Perry (Dist. 2) argued the shift in funding would jeopardize the field, Brayman and other council members disagreed.

"We have $1 million in Duvall Field and this would not be touching that," he said. "It is fair to say that we have more money in Duvall Field now than we can spend."

Council members Cook, Perry and Karen Hampton (Dist.4) voted against the plan after suggesting postponement so the new council could decide it in January. Brayman said a delay would put the city's funding at risk, as state officials have warned that the money needs to be used soon.

"The state representatives, including state delegates, have been quite matter-of-fact with us that if we don't encumber the funds before the General Assembly reconvenes [on Jan. 13], the funds could be lost," he said.

A postponement would have been unlikely to change the vote's outcome, as Cook and Hampton will be replaced by council members-elect Marcus Afzali and Denise Mitchell, both of whom — along with mayor-elect Andrew Fellows — favor the plan.

"[A park] will be a good opportunity for us and something that people can look forward to," Mitchell said. The third council member-elect, Christine Nagle (Dist. 1) who is replacing the departing councilman Jonathan Molinatto, said she opposed the plan.

Councilman Robert Catlin (Dist. 2) said there is no definite timeline for negotiations, and that they could "take more than a year" or "happen fast."