Title
Social Districts
Action
Action:
A. Approve the Safe Communities Committee's recommendation to adopt an ordinance establishing Chapter 15, Article XV-Social Districts in the City Code, and
B. Amend Chapter 15, Article I, Section 15-3 of the City Code to add references to Article XV-Social Districts.
Body
Committee Chair:
Larken Egleston, Safe Communities Committee
Staff Resource(s):
Debbie Smith, Transportation
Casey Mashburn, Transportation
Patrick Baker, City Attorney's Office
Lisa Flowers, City Attorney's Office
Explanation
* 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 NC General Statute Section 15-314. A social district may include privately owned property, including permittees and non-permittee businesses; 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:
* A Council-adopted ordinance designating a social district which includes days and hours of operation, the boundaries map and written description, and a management and maintenance plan,
* A published Council-approved management and maintenance plan on the city's website, and
* Registration of the social district with the NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC Commission).
Proposed Changes
* The proposed new ordinance would adopt the state's requirements into the City Code for the creation of s...
Click here for full text