The Holly Springs City Council has approved a 60-day emergency moratorium on accepting applications for alcoholic beverage licenses.

The moratorium is needed “to preserve the status quo and grant staff and attorneys the opportunity to review the alcoholic beverage ordinance,” according to an ordinance adopted recently by the council.

The moratorium is temporary, applies to all applications currently pending or under review by the city and staff, and may be extended two times for a period not to exceed 120 days, the ordinance says. It can be terminated earlier than 60 days “upon the adoption by the council of appropriate licensing ordinances.”