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Town staff to develop plan for small social district at Red's Corner; council gives guidance
Summary
Council directed staff to continue working with applicant Scott Bertrand on a proposed social district near Red's Corner, with planning and police to refine boundaries, management plans, signage and enforcement issues before returning with an ordinance.
Southern Pines — Councilmembers on Oct. 28 agreed to have staff continue working with an applicant to design a small social district around Red's Corner that would permit licensed alcoholic beverages to be consumed within a defined public boundary between two adjacent properties.
Planning Director BJ Grieve told council the state statute allows municipalities to adopt social districts that set a boundary and require a management plan, signage and single-use or specially labeled cups; he directed staff to coordinate with the police department on enforcement and to require applicant materials that meet the state's checklist. Planner Mason Maddox reviewed common statutory requirements and noted enforcement — including signage, cups that show place of purchase, and a management plan — is typically the ongoing responsibility of local government and local law enforcement.
Applicant Scott Bertrand described operational details for a limited Rhett's/Red's Corner-area district intended to allow customers to move between two adjacent licensed premises; he said the plan would limit hours (proposed 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with council discussion about 10 p.m. as an alternative), require nonglass cups with place-of-purchase labeling and training/certification for servers. Council questioned likely enforcement burdens, liability between licensees (dram-shop concerns), and whether a social district limited to a very small area would be an efficient use of staff resources. Police said enforcement instances have been limited in comparable jurisdictions and that practical management often relies on the management plan and licensee cooperation.
Council direction: Staff will continue to work with the applicant to assemble required materials, consult the town attorney and police chief on enforcement and liability language, and prepare an ordinance for future agendas. No formal ordinance or vote was taken at this work session; council members indicated general willingness to move forward but asked staff to return with boundary options, a management plan, and recommended hours and enforcement requirements.
What happens next: Planning and police will draft a management plan, consult the town attorney on statutory compliance, and present a proposed ordinance and maps for council consideration in one to two months.
