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Staff outlines community entertainment district proposals and a DORA expansion for Uptown
Summary
City staff proposed two Community Entertainment Districts (CEDs)—a 40‑acre Uptown CED and a 44‑acre Westar CED—able to generate D5J liquor permits, and presented a first reading to expand Uptown’s DORA by adding 32 West College Ave; council gave initial feedback and staff plans legislation.
City staff on Feb. 18 briefed Westerville City Council on two proposed Community Entertainment Districts (CEDs) and presented a first reading to expand the Uptown Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) to include 32 West College Ave.
Economic development staff explained that a CED is a statutorily defined area (minimum 20 acres) that, for every five acres, creates one D5J liquor permit (a D5J functions like a D5 permit for restaurants). Staff proposed an Uptown CED covering about 40 acres that would create eight D5J permits and a Westar CED of about 44 acres that would create the statutory maximum of 15 D5J permits. Staff said the CEDs are intended as an economic‑development tool to attract restaurants and destination uses in strategic areas without changing open‑container law.
Steven Gale, economic development specialist, said the CED tool would free some quota permits for use outside the designated areas, reduce costs to restaurants that otherwise would need to “trex” a permit on the open market and help achieve goals in the city’s economic development strategy to make Uptown a food destination. Staff noted recent permit requests (including a restaurant at 32 West College and other upcoming users) and said the city’s quota of some permit types is nearly exhausted.
Staff clarified what a CED does and does not do: it creates D5J permits tied to the CED boundary, but it does not make an area “wet” (that decision remains with the Board of Elections/local‑option process) and does not by itself allow open containers (DORA covers open‑container rules). Staff also noted the state statute requires the mayor to submit the CED application to the Ohio Department of Liquor Control; council questions were answered about the process and timelines. Staff proposed bringing ordinances for council consideration and a public hearing at the second reading, aiming for March 4 if legal review is complete.
On the related DORA item, staff presented a first reading of Ordinance No. 20 25 04 to add 32 West College Ave to the Uptown DORA; that item will have a public hearing at the second reading in March. City staff said there were no administrative objections to the DORA expansion and that the property is a prospective restaurant tenant (Ampersand) seeking to serve DORA beverages.
Council asked about permit conversion preferences for existing Uptown businesses, whether current permit holders could be encouraged to switch to D5J to free quota permits, and timing for Ampersand and Smash Park openings; staff said Ampersand expects an April opening and Smash Park in August and that staff would consult with existing permit holders and legal counsel about transition options.
Staff said the next steps would be to finalize boundaries, submit an application to the mayor, present ordinances for three readings with a public hearing at the second reading, and, if approved, submit the application to the Ohio Department of Liquor Control.
