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Grosse Ile DDA recommends Macomb Street social district to township board
Summary
The Grosse Ile Downtown Development Authority voted to recommend that the township board adopt a Macomb Street Social District, a designated area where patrons may carry and consume alcohol purchased from participating businesses; the DDA will collect permit applications, purchase signage and cups, and educate the public if the township approves.
The Grosse Ile Downtown Development Authority on Wednesday voted to recommend that the township board adopt a Macomb Street Social District, a defined area where customers may carry and consume alcohol purchased from participating restaurants and bars within a marked commons area.
A social district is “an area designated by a local government where customers can carry and drink an open container of alcohol purchased from a participating bar or restaurant,” Ross, the DDA director, told the board during a presentation. He said the state law authorizing social districts took effect in July 2020 and that the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) issues the social-district permits after township approval.
The DDA’s proposal covers the Macomb Street corridor roughly from the commons on Meridian Macomb down to the end of Nate’s Market and would initially include three participating businesses: Lloyd’s, Perdino’s and Sully’s. The Literary Hideaway and Galindo’s were identified as potential participants; Galindo’s has an application pending with the state. Participating businesses must hold an eligible liquor license and file a social-district permit application with the MLCC; Ross said the permit carries a $250 annual fee plus a $70 inspection fee and requires township approval before submission to the state.
Under the plan, alcohol may be consumed only inside the designated commons area and only in a permitted, non-glass cup that holds 16 ounces or less and bears both the social-district logo and the permit holder’s logo. Ross said permit holders remain responsible for checking IDs and refusing service to intoxicated patrons; he told the board he had confirmed with the DDA’s attorneys that the township faces no additional liability beyond normal enforcement of liquor laws.
Ross said the DDA recommends a seven-day schedule from noon to 10 p.m., but the board or township could scale hours back to weekends or special events. He also said township officials can amend boundaries or revoke the district if problems emerge. The presentation cited a small local survey (11 respondents, 10 in support) and informal outreach to police chiefs in neighboring communities, with chiefs reporting no unusual crime increases tied to social districts in their jurisdictions.
After discussion, Miss Pusack moved and Mr. Jacobson seconded a resolution recommending township board approval. The motion carried.
The DDA will collect permit applications from eligible businesses, buy signage and cups, post rules at participating locations and on signs at district boundaries, and present the recommendation to the township board at a scheduled study session and action vote. If the township approves, the application will be forwarded to the MLCC for state review.
