Council backs targeted entertainment-zone designation for the Hub food-and-entertainment complex

The City Council instructed staff to create a targeted entertainment-zone designation for the Hub (the South Mall) that will permit flexible rules for alcohol consumption in specified common outdoor areas and, for special events, in the parking lot with required perimeter controls.

Economic Development Director Joel Belden explained that overlapping alcohol licenses for multiple food-and-beverage tenants in shared outdoor areas can require fences and segmented service areas under standard Alcoholic Beverage Control rules. State law allows localities to designate zones where consumption rules are more flexible to support outdoor dining, festivals and shared-use entertainment spaces; staff proposed a narrowly targeted approach that would apply only to the Hub’s backyard common area and a smaller common patio area and, for special events, the parking lot with strict temporary fencing, security and perimeter control requirements.

Belden said typical allowed hours under the enabling law are 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., but council and staff may tailor hours and impose additional conditions during the permit and planning process to protect neighboring residential areas. Council members supported the stand-alone, site-specific approach rather than a citywide blanket policy to avoid sprawl of the designation and to protect residential neighborhoods.

No members of the public registered to speak on the item. Staff will return to council with ordinance language and the mapped designation that reflects the targeted approach discussed.