Title
Public Comment on Social Districts
Action
Action:
Receive public comment on the adoption of Chapter 15-Article XV to the City Code to Allow Social Districts in the city of Charlotte.
Body
Committee Chair:
Larken Egleston, Safe Communities Committee
Staff Resource(s):
Debbie Smith, Transportation
Casey Mashburn, Transportation
Brett Few, City Attorney’s Office
Explanation
§ The proposed new ordinance and amendment to Section 15-3 (which only adds reference to Article XV) are planned to be presented to City Council for adoption consideration on August 22, 2022.
§ The new ordinance would allow for the creation of social districts in the city, but does not establish any social districts.
§ The establishment of any social district in the city of Charlotte will require future Council action.
Background
§ In the Fall of 2021, the NC General Assembly enacted legislation allowing cities to adopt an ordinance designating social districts; in July 2022, the General Assembly enacted legislation to recodify and clarify social districts.
§ A social district is a defined area in which a person may consume alcoholic beverages sold by a permittee. A social district may include both indoor and outdoor areas of businesses within or contiguous to the defined area during the days and hours established for the social district pursuant to NCGS Sec. 15-314. A social district may include privately owned property, including permittees and non-permittee businesses, and multi-tenant establishments, and public streets, crosswalks, or parking areas whether or not the streets or parking areas are closed to vehicle traffic.
§ North Carolina Law has requirements on establishing and operating a social district. City requirements include:
- Council adopted ordinance designating a social district which includes days and hours of operation, the boundaries map and written description, and Management and Maintenance Plan.
- Publish Council-approved management and maintenance plan on website
- Register the social district with the NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC Commission)
§ City staff presented an overview of social districts at the June 2022 Strategy Session that described the legislative ability for local governments to opt in and allow Social Districts.
§ On July 11, 2022, Mayor Lyles referred social districts to the Safe Communities Committee to answer the policy question: “Determine if Social Districts should be implemented in Charlotte.”
§ On July 28, 2022, the Safe Communities Committee voted unanimously (Egleston, Phipps, Bokhari and Newton) to request a period for public comment regarding the new ordinance be scheduled and recommend to the full Council the adoption of Chapter 15-Article XV to allow social districts in the city of Charlotte.
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Safe Communities Committee - Social Districts Pre-Read Material
Safe Communities Committee - Social Districts Presentation