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Aberdeen board hears request to expand downtown social district to seven days; schedules public hearing on hours
Summary
Planning staff presented a request from downtown stakeholders and Brandham Inc. to extend the downtown social district to operate seven days a week and to include three parcels near 204 East Main Street; the board directed staff to hold a public hearing in December on the proposed time changes but did not approve the boundary expansion.
At a Nov. 10 work session, Aberdeen Town Board members discussed proposed amendments to the downtown social district after planning staff summarized requests from business owners and stakeholders.
Staff said two specific changes were requested: "to expand the operating days to seven days a week. So, currently it's Thursday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This request is to include Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., keeping Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.," planning staff said.
Staff also described a boundary-extension request from a property owner at 204 East Main Street (identified in the packet as Brandham Inc.) seeking to include three adjacent parcels east of the current social-district boundary near Keys Appliance and the park. The owner provided information saying they intend to use the space for future development and community events; staff noted temporary uses would still require permits and police staffing if events take place on private lots.
Several board members said they were reluctant to expand the district onto vacant lots before construction occurs. "I don't mind expanding it, but I I agree. We need to have something there that we're expanding it to," one board member said, urging caution and the option to revisit the boundary if and when development is underway. In response, staff noted the owner could apply for special-event permits in the interim and could return with site-specific plans.
The board agreed to schedule a public hearing in December on the proposed hours change so residents and business owners can comment; the board took no final vote on the boundary change at the Nov. 10 meeting.
