By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Council is being asked to expand the downtown DORA – both geographically and by the calendar year.
The changes would stretch the DORA to year-round, and stretch it to areas south and east in the downtown.
Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter reported to council Tuesday evening Mayor Mike Aspacher and the Downtown Special Improvement District are applying to expand the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.
The city first established its DORA in 2020, both in response to the pandemic and ongoing community discussions about continuing efforts to activate the downtown area.
“The DORA has been successful in Bowling Green,” Tretter said to City Council. The goal was to position the city as a vibrant destination of entertainment, culture and activity.
“Participating businesses have reported success,” she said.
Any potential problems have not been experienced, Tretter said.
“There have been no negative impacts in terms of health and safety,” she said.
The changes proposed in the application include:
- Expanded footprint. The current area on South Main Street would be extended to include the parking lot off East Clough Street. The area would also be stretched to the east, to the corner of Wooster and Prospect streets on the south, and to the Community Commons on the north side.
- Expanded time period. DORA would be permitted year-round, with the exception of the Friday-Sunday on the weekend after Labor Day when the annual Black Swamp Arts Festival is held. DORA will be suspended during the festival, at the request of the organizers, to avoid confusion that weekend since the footprint for the festival is different, and DORA could cause enforcement issues.
- Additional businesses have sought, or are planning to seek DORA applications.
City Council will hold a public hearing on the expanded application prior to its Aug. 15 regular meeting.
Tretter told City Council that the partnership formed with the original DORA has been strong, and has worked cooperatively for Downtown Bowling Green, business owners in the downtown, and numerous city departments such as the administration, public works and police.
The signs stating the boundaries of the DORA will be moved to match the new limits once approved.
In the expanded application, the following businesses have committed to retaining their DORA designation or adding it:
- Bar 149
- Beckett’s
- City Tap and The Attic
- Doc’s Big City Saloon
- Juniper Brewing Co.
- Mr. Spots
- Myla Marcus Winery
- Clay Pot/Naslada
- SamB’s Restaurant
- Stone’s Throw Tavern & Grill
- Trotter’s Tavern
The hours of operation for the DORA will be Mondays through Thursdays, from 4 to 10 p.m., and Fridays through Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The last sales will occur no later than 9:30 p.m., and all cups must be disposed of by 10 p.m.
The Bowling Green Police Division has committed to the continued patrol and monitoring of the downtown and the DORA as often as possible during the times of DORA operation. The security plan will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
If it is determined by the municipal administrator that additional security is needed in the DORA, the city reserves the right to suspend operation of the DORA until the situation is resolved.
The city’s Public Works Department will monitor the use of trash receptacles during the DORA operation, and may adjust frequency of collection during regular operation hours if necessary. Establishments in the DORA that have liquor permits to serve alcohol on their premises will maintain a trash receptacle of adequate size near the main entrance of the businesses.
The Bowling Green DORA rules are:
- A person may possess an opened container of beer, wine or liquor at an outdoor location in the DORA if it was purchased from the business in the DORA.
- A person may not enter an establishment in the DORA while possessing an opened container acquired elsewhere.
- A person may not possess an opened container while being in a motor vehicle in a DORA, except as permitted for commercial quadricycles.
- All beer, wine and liquor must be contained in the official cup of the DORA.
- Only one official cup will be permitted at a time per DORA participant.
- All DORA beverages must be served in a new, unused official cup.
- Used official cups must be disposed of before entering an establishment that serves alcohol in the DORA.
- Private property owners reserve the right to prohibit the consumption of alcohol on their property.
- DORA participants are expected to follow all the rules of the DORA and maintain a decorum of good behavior, free of public drunkenness, property destruction, or any action that disrupts the enjoyment of another participant or disrupts any establishment, property owner, resident, visitor, passerby or patron within the DORA.
