Could a downtown social district come to Cary? Village trustees are considering one

People would be able to drink alcohol outside in downtown Cary if a social district discussed by the Village Board earlier this week comes to fruition.

As defined in a proposed ordinance, a downtown social district would be a set space where liquor bought from a licensed business could be consumed in public areas.

During a Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday, Cary trustees discussed putting such a district along West Main Street from High Road to Jandus Road, as well as Spring Street, High Road and Jandus Road, all from West Main Street to Cary Street.

As a result of the highly infectious coronavirus, many restrictions were placed on indoor dining last year, resulting in many municipalities, including Cary, designating outdoor dining spots with lights, picnic tables and planter boxes. In Cary, an Alfresco Alley was set up on Spring Street, which proved to be popular with residents.

The social district “is just the evolution of the expansion of businesses into the public space during the pandemic,” Police Chief Patrick Finlon told Cary trustees.

Hours for the social district would be from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting March 1 and ending Dec. 15.

These hours are in line with surrounding businesses’ hours of operations, Finlon said.

Only alcohol bought from businesses in the social district would be able to be consumed outside. Someone would not be able to bring a drink from somewhere else, Finlon said.

In previous discussions about the district, Finlon said, interest was expressed in having mixed drinks be included in the types of alcoholic beverages allowed.

Only beer, wine or mixed drinks, defined in the ordinance as a beverage with an “alcoholic and nonalcoholic mixer,” can be sold for consumption on the public way. Serving shots or any alcoholic beverages in the amount of 1 ounce or less would not be allowed.

At one point, the village wanted to put a transaction limit in the ordinance so people could only buy one beverage at a time. However, during past discussions, it was brought up that people might want to come into an establishment to get an extra drink for someone else sitting outside, so it was decided that two drinks per transaction would be the limit, Finlon said.

Signs would be placed around the social district to notify patrons they cannot take alcohol beyond those points, Finlon said.

Conversations with businesses around the proposed district was positive, Village Administrator Jake Rife said.

“There is interest by all the licensees to participate in this program,” Rife said. “They’re excited about it.”

To participate in the social district, businesses will have to obtain an additional endorsement to their liquor license. When Rife talked to downtown establishments about a possible $250 cost for the endorsement, “there weren’t any issues,” he said.

Money the city gets from the endorsement could help pay for potential costs associated with how popular the social district becomes, Rife said, such as an extra officer downtown similar to how Cary operates its Cruise Nights.

No official vote was taken at Tuesday’s meeting, but the matter is expected to be brought back before the board at a later time.