Councilmember withdraws proposal to expand DORA at Lake Anna after veterans memorial concerns

Councilmember Haddock, chair of the Planning, Annexation and Codes Committee, proposed amending the city—s DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) boundaries so the downtown arts and music festival could extend onto Lake Anna. The measure drew objections from multiple council members who said the proposal would permit alcohol in and near a veterans memorial on Sixth Street. After extended debate, Haddock withdrew the request.

The item came up during the committee—s meeting on Sept. 2. Haddock said the amendment was meant to —create a better event— by including houses with porches and front yards adjacent to festival activity. —It was brought to my attention that for downtown events, the arts and music festival could be expanded to include those houses with their porches in their front yards and just make for a better event there,— he said.

Several council members objected to alcohol being allowed in park areas that contain veteran memorials. Councilmember Gosler said he would not support expansion —to all of Lake Anna— because of the Veterans Memorial on the south side of Sixth Street and related monuments, saying, —There—s not one veterans memorial that I know of that allows alcoholic beverages.— Councilmember Harris, who said he had served as quartermaster at the VFW during memorial fundraising, also objected and stated not all memorial upkeep funds came from alcohol or gambling proceeds.

Councilmember Thompson and others proposed narrower alternatives: permitting a single-day extension for the arts festival, a cordoned —beer garden— around the gazebo, or allowing permits by application for specific weekends. Staff and several council members noted a separate legal constraint: DORA-related changes to days or hours must be passed by the legislative authority and signed at least 30 days prior to an event. As Councilmember Haddock noted, —According to our ordinance and ORC codes regarding DORA legislation, any alteration of the DORA for hours, days, whatever have to be passed by the legislative authority and signed at least 30 days prior to an event.—

Committee members also raised a technical constraint: Lake Anna is one parcel for addressing and licensing purposes, and council was told that the city—s liquor-control paperwork reflects the parcel as a single address, which would make carving out a sub-area within the park difficult. Parks Commission Chair Dan Norr said the gazebo area had hosted a beer garden in the past but agreed with council members that alcohol did not belong at the War Memorial honor roll.

With multiple council members opposing a full-parcel expansion and some expressing support for a corralled, event-specific beer garden or single-day permit, Haddock withdrew the request: —With everybody—s opinion consideration, I am withdrawing this request.—

Next steps: Councilmembers and staff discussed pursuing more limited, time-limited permits or an application pathway for one-off weekend events instead of a permanent parcel-wide change. The committee did not advance any ordinance at that meeting.

Why it matters: The discussion balanced downtown economic and festival planning against civic uses of public parkland and the commemorative function of veteran memorials. Any future expansion will need council approval at least 30 days before an event and would have to account for parcel- and liquor-license technicalities.