MANSFIELD — Is there a DORA in Mansfield’s future?
Mayor Jodie Perry told members of the Downtown Improvement Advisory Board on Thursday that she plans to have legislation in the next 90 days for City Council to consider that would enact a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.
The biggest questions are the DORA’s geographic restrictions and its days/hours of operation.
“I’m just really thinking this out loud … my goal is for the April (DIAB meeting) to come to the board with a final recommendation before it goes to (City Council),” Perry said.
Under Ohio law, a DORA is a specified area of land that a local legislative authority (city council or township trustees) designates as exempt from certain open container provisions as set forth in Ohio Revised Code Section 4301.82.
Many communities around Ohio have enacted DORAs, including Ashland, Wooster, Mount Vernon, Crestline and Bucyrus. There are no current DORAs in Richland County.
Within the DORA’s boundaries, patrons can purchase an open beverage containing alcohol from an on-premises liquor permit holder, such as a bar or restaurant, and leave the premises with the drink and continue consuming it.
While the law places certain restrictions on DORAs, whether to create a DORA is a locally controlled decision. Local officials determine its size, hours of operation, what cups are used, and any health, safety and sanitation plans, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce.
Ohio cities create DORAs primarily to boost local economic growth, revitalize downtown areas and increase foot traffic for restaurants, bars, and retailers.
Authorized by Ohio law since 2015, these zones allow patrons 21+ to purchase alcohol in authorized cups and consume them while strolling outdoors, shopping, or attending events. According to the Greater Ohio Policy Center, this fosters a more vibrant, walkable, and social community atmosphere.
Perry said she is considering recommendations from Downtown Mansfield Inc. about a local DORA.
“I am the hangup in this once again. I promise that I will move this off my desk and bring it back,” the mayor said.
Perry said she has received differing opinions.
“It seems like there’s a contingent that thinks it’s better to start small and go big. And then other people think it’s better to go big and then shrink it if we need to,” she said. “I would welcome input on that from anybody.”
Communities handle DORAs differently.
In Wooster, for example, a DORA operates seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., except during the annual Woosterfest. The Crestline DORA operates only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Mount Vernon’s DORA is event-based and requires an application to be reviewed by a committee. Prior to an event being held within the approved DORA boundary downtown, the event host may apply to make their event a DORA-approved event.
Perry said she would like to have a DORA in place by the summer, which could aid local restaurants and bars as the Main Street Corridor Improvement Project continues.
“Even if (it doesn’t) make a huge impact at the beginning, I think it does send a message to developers and others that might be looking to put a restaurant in or other things that, ‘Hey, this is where we’re moving,'” the mayor said.
A board member asked the mayor whether she anticipated pushback from the community regarding the creation of a DORA in downtown.
“I’ve yet to do anything that doesn’t have pushback,” Perry said with a laugh. “I do think we’ll have people that say we shouldn’t do it.
“I actually really haven’t talked to (city) council much about it, so I don’t know where they all stand, but I would think we may get some visits from folks (who oppose it),” the mayor said.
The Downtown Improvement Advisory Board may be asked to help market a new DORA and to purchase cups and stickers needed for its operation.