Council approves DORA district for downtown

City officials have once again approved an ordinance to allow those of-age to buy alcoholic drinks downtown and carry them around a designated area.

Council City Council members had already approved two readings of an ordinance to establish a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in the city’s downtown, to be known as the Downtown Columbus Social District.

That was approved on Sept. 3 and sent off to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) for final approval. The ATC asked the city to add some additional language to the ordinance that ensures the designated DORA permitees are in compliance with the city and county zoning ordinance, Executive Director of Administration Eric Frey said.

Council Member Elaine Hilber, D-District 2, made a motion to suspend council rules to pass the ordinance on just one reading, instead of the typical two. That motion and the vote on the ordinance itself were approved 8-0. Council Member Jerone Wood, D-District 3, was absent.

Starting in July of 2023, state law has given municipalities the ability to create DORAs, where those 21 and older can buy alcoholic beverages from approved vendors and retail establishments and carry them outside to be consumed within the DORA boundaries.

So far, 24 Indiana communities have taken advantage and created DORAs of their own, according to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission website.

“We’ve talked a lot about how we’re hopeful that (the DORA) will boost tourism, increase revenue and energize our downtown,” Frey said.

Council President Frank Miller, R-District 4, had asked city officials to confirm with the ATC that the added paragraph is the only change that would be needed, which was confirmed. Otherwise, there were no other changes made.

City officials said previously that once approved by the ATC, the DORA would go into effect.

In terms of a timeline, Frey said he was unsure but did add they received input from the ATC fairly quickly after submittal.

Establishments that want to become a designated permittee and be granted a refreshment area designation would have to submit an application to the city for approval and receive a recommendation by the board of works, per the ordinance.

The boundaries of the DORA will be designated with signs and spots that take part in the Downtown Columbus Social District will have “a window cling” displayed near their entrance.

The Downtown Columbus Social District would be operational seven days a week, 365 days a year, from 10 a.m. to midnight, according to the ordinance.

Several local business owners came to the council meeting during the first reading to express support for the DORA, saying that it would promote more foot traffic downtown, in turn support local businesses there and overall improve and give a boost to the atmosphere of the area.

Some general rules of the DORA, outlined in the ordinance are:

• A person can consume an alcoholic beverage from a designated permittee or vendor anywhere within the refreshment area boundaries, subject to the right of any retailer permittee or business within the refreshment area to refuse to allow people to enter their premises with an alcoholic beverage.
• All designated permittees and vendors may allow a person to exit the designated permittee’s or vendor’s licensed premises with not more than two open containers of an alcoholic beverage at a time.
• A person may not consume an alcoholic beverage within the refreshment area that was purchased outside the refreshment area.
• Alcoholic beverages must be contained in a designated Downtown Columbus Social District Cup or an approved container affixed with a Downtown Columbus Social District decal.
• Glass containers may only be allowed in a designated permittee’s outdoor dining area and may not be removed into the Downtown Columbus Social District.

The following retailer permittees have submitted a complete application to the city to participate as a designated permittee:

1. ZwanzigZ Pizza, 1038 Lafayette Ave.
2. ZwanzigZ Taproom, 315 12th St.
3. Thai Connection, 527 Washington St.
4. Henry Social Club, 423 Washington St.
5. Swine & Dine, 412 Washington St.
6. 4th Street Bar & Grill, 433 Fourth St.
7. Black Sheep Pizza, 318 Washington St.
8. The Columbus Bar, 322 Fourth St.
9. Taku Japanese Steakhouse, 305 Fourth St.
10. The Garage Pub, 308 Fourth St.
11. Upland Pumphouse, 148 Lindsey St.

Those that hold a temporary beer or wine permit, a supplemental catering permit, or a craft manufacturer’s permit that want to be designated as a vendor and granted a temporary vendor designation to participate in a special event held within the refreshment area can submit a special event permit application and state DORA designation form on each occasion. Those would then be weighed for approval by the board of works as well.

Temporary vendor locations:

1. Sixth Street Arts Alley
2. Fourth and Jackson streets
3. Fourth and Washington streets
4. Fourth and Washington streets
5. Fourth and Franklin streets
6. Washington Street, between Fourth and Fifth streets
7. Proposed plaza on People Trail connection
8. Mill Race Park near Amphitheatre
9. Mill Race Park west of parking lot