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Chamber director to propose Main Street common consumption area in 2026
Summary
Jill Thor, director of the Atchison Chamber of Commerce, said Sept. 2 that she plans to present a Main Street common consumption area proposal in 2026 and will consult local businesses before filing a formal plan.
Jill Thor, director of the Atchison Chamber of Commerce, used the public-forum slot at the Sept. 2 City Commission meeting to preview a plan she intends to present in 2026 to create a Main Street common consumption area (CCA).
Thor thanked city crews for installing banners and city staff for supporting the BC Bash student welcome event. She said the CCA concept is common in the Main Street program and that Atchison is one of the few local Main Street communities without such a designated area. Thor asked the commission for its preliminary blessing to develop the formal proposal and indicated she would meet with businesses directly to confirm interest before bringing the draft ordinance and map to the commission.
"I would like to be able just to present a bullet point and ask that if any commissioners have any questions on how it works, I'll be glad to field those... I am planning on presenting that plan to you guys [in] 2026," Thor said.
Thor described the basic mechanics she anticipates: participating licensed establishments would sell drinks into a CCA-approved cup; customers could then carry that beverage to the designated common area (not back into other establishments) where consumption would be allowed under the city-approved map and ABC regulations. Commissioners and staff raised concerns about underage access, enforcement, and whether establishments would want to participate; Thor said she plans to consult directly with affected businesses and include those responses in her formal plan.
Next steps
Thor said she will consult with businesses in the Main Street District (she described the proposed boundaries roughly as River to Tenth Street and Main Commercial Kansas Avenue) and prepare a formal presentation for the commission in 2026. She asked for guidance now only to avoid doing extensive work if the commission would not be receptive.
Ending: The commission did not take action Sept. 2 beyond receiving the public comment; staff and commissioners suggested Thor coordinate with businesses and return with a formal proposal and map for review.
