City memo: Social districts may take 3-5 months for Charlotte to implement

CHARLOTTE — Despite becoming a law last fall, the city staff told the Charlotte City Council it may take another three to-five months to implement social districts in Charlotte, according to a memo provided to the Charlotte City Council and obtained by Channel 9.

Social districts allow patrons of establishments permitted by the Alcohol Beverage Control to drink an alcoholic beverage on sidewalks and public areas in defined areas. The town of Kannapolis designated its downtown area as a social district within weeks of the law being signed by Gov. Roy Cooper.

[PAST COVERAGE: What does the future hold for downtown Kannapolis’ ‘Social District’?]

“I think it is a great addition, especially when you have a beautiful downtown like this,” said Stefan Perrine, the owner at Old Armor Beer Company. “People like to get a beer or cider, walk down the street and talk and just be outside so they are not having to be in these confined areas.”

A team that is comprised of Charlotte staff from Economic Development, Planning, Solid Waste, Charlotte Department of Transportation and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is working with Mecklenburg County ABC and Charlotte Center City Partners, according to the city memo.

The memo said the Charlotte City Council needs to take several steps before implementing a social district.

According to the memo, the Charlotte City Council needs to adopt a policy allowing for social districts in Charlotte when they meet specific locational criteria, likely related to the type of place and the noise ordinance. The memo says staff needs to create a procedure for formal and informal business associations to apply for social district status and pay an associated application/permitting fee.

[ALSO READ: Charlotte bar, restaurant business owners push for ‘social district’ approval]

The memo says the applicant will be required to provide the materials required by the state, including clear district boundaries, a management and maintenance plan and a signage plan. In addition to the state’s requirements, the city will require proof of community engagement and support from adjacent property owners, the memo stated.

Charlotte City Council members were also told they will have to formally adopt social districts with complete applications on a rolling basis, similar to the rezoning calendar. Before the first social district is enacted, the Charlotte City Council will have to amend all ordinance language referring to open containers. The city would be on the hook for applying for social district status with the North Carolina ABC Commission. City staff is currently looking into what would cause a social district permit to be revoked and when a revoked district would be able to reapply.

The entire process, according to the memo, is expected to take three to five months.

[ALSO READ: Albemarle explores social district to invigorate downtown corridor]

Staff members said a pilot is not recommended since social districts require policy adoption, an amendment to the ordinance, a signage plan, a management and maintenance plan, and registering with the state.

Councilman Larken Egleston has been leading the charge for social districts in Charlotte. Despite the memo, Egleston told Channel 9 he hopes the city will launch a pilot sooner than three to five months.

“I don’t see any reason given some of these other communities have demonstrated the work can be effective and safe,” he said. “I don’t see any reason it should take three to five months to roll out a pilot.”

Several business owners in Plaza Midwood have been asking for a social district designation in that neighborhood. Egleston said NoDa, Montford, Camp North End and Arysley would be other great candidates. He said social districts are a great way to support the small business community.

“For folks who think we are envisioning something like Bourbon Street in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, that’s not at all what we are talking about here,” he said. “This is something more family-friendly, more casual. There will be rules in place. It will not be a free for all.”

[ALSO READ: Hickory social district allows alcoholic drinks on sidewalks, public areas]

The social district in Kannapolis includes parts of West Avenue, Oak Avenue, Vance Street, Laureate Way, Cannon Baller Way, West B Street and Main Street. People who buy drinks from Chophouse 101, Sabor, Tipsy Hare Cidery and Old Armor Beer Company are allowed to take to go and drink on sidewalks and in public areas. They can do this in the defined range.

Perrine said there have been no major issues since launching.

“We already had a plan in place when North Carolina passed it, so we were ready to go,” he said. “I think it is great for any small city or any section of any large city.”

Charlotte leaders are reviewing Kannapolis and Greensboro as case studies as they try to implement a social district.

Other cities with social districts include Cornelius, Hickory, Newton and Sylva.

(Watch the video below: Hickory social district allows alcoholic drinks on sidewalks, public areas)

Hickory social district allows alcoholic drinks on sidewalks, public areas

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