Columbiana Council considering proposal to add a second DORA

Aug 31, 2023

A second Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, is proposed to encompass this area and surrounding areas around the TownCenter at Firestone Farms in Columbiana. City Council is considering the proposal. (Photo by Katie White)

COLUMBIANA — A proposal to establish a second Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in the city is going back to the drawing board to include more property.

A DORA allows for the open carry of alcoholic beverages in a designated location during specific times and events.

City Manager Lance Willard told council at the Aug. 15 meeting that it would make more sense to include more property at the proposed location, which is the TownCenter at Firestone Farms.

He said the addition of property would cover the brick yard commons, the empty lot northeast, and across the street where the 1880 Barn is located, as well as out to state Route 7 by Vagabond Village.

Willard stressed that the expansion would not mean that a DORA would be enacted during one huge event resulting in people walking across state Route 14.

He added that in most cases when a DORA is enacted it would be for the north of state Route 14 and not the south, and that a DORA would also not include the 1880 Barn unless there is a large event there.

“The normal DORA will probably just be around the clock tower, around the brick yard commons and whatever might develop around that new lot,” he explained.

He and Municipal Attorney Mark Hutson both said that designating a larger area for DORA activity makes more operational sense.

For example, as it currently stands, customers of each business that holds a liquor license at the TownCenter are not allowed to leave those business premises with alcoholic beverages to walk outside and enjoy the common area.

Hutson acknowledged that some people are doing this now, but it is technically not allowed.

“If there is a DORA they could go outside into that common area, which is around or closer to the clock tower itself. As it exists right now, you are limited,” Hutson said. “So it does make sense if they are going to allow people to actually walk around.”

Council member Amanda Banner expressed some concern about the new proposed area.

“We are talking about parking lot areas. Do we really want people taking alcoholic beverages to their cars? Are they going to be drinking other alcohol, filling those DORA cups there?” She said.

She felt that the addition of property was too expansive.

“I understand the courtyard area, and that makes sense, but now we are extending it across the road into much more expansive area that is not even developed yet,” she said.

Willard said the idea is to have permanent signage in the original area and then the rest would be by mobile signs, similar to what is in place on Main Street in the downtown.

Council member Dan Dattilio requested that the Mackall family visit council to go over the expansion proposal.

“I am all for tailoring it to something that makes sense, I just want it to make sense,” Dattilio said.

Willard noted that the expansion proposal would not take effect this season if approved by council, but would be in place for next session.

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