Cuyahoga Falls considering downtown DORA zone for outdoor drinking

April Helms, Akron Beacon Journal
·6 min read
A pedestrian crosses Front Street at Portage Trail in the heart of a proposed Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in Cuyahoga Falls. The proposed DORA runs along Front Street from Moe's Restaurant on the north end to HiHO Brewing Co. on south end.
A pedestrian crosses Front Street at Portage Trail in the heart of a proposed Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in Cuyahoga Falls. The proposed DORA runs along Front Street from Moe's Restaurant on the north end to HiHO Brewing Co. on south end.

Cuyahoga Falls could join other local cities in easing the way for alcoholic beverages to be consumed beyond the establishments serving them through the establishment of a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.

A DORA proposal led by the Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership could gets its first hearing before City Council in late April.

In a DORA, customers can drink alcoholic beverages outside the establishments serving them, but they must be served in readily identified clear plastic cups, said Connor McHugh, the assistant law director, during an informational meeting last week on the proposal.

According to a map posted on the city's website, the DORA would cover about 77 acres on a mile stretch along Second and Front streets, including concourses next to the Cuyahoga River. The area runs from Moe's Restaurant on the north end to HiHo Brewing Co. on the south. Businesses within the zone that hold liquor permits would be eligible to participate.

Cuyahoga Falls City Council will consider whether to create a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in an area along Front and Second streets, from just north of Oakwood Drive to Grant Avenue.
Cuyahoga Falls City Council will consider whether to create a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in an area along Front and Second streets, from just north of Oakwood Drive to Grant Avenue.

Cuyahoga Falls would become the latest local DORA creator, following in the footsteps of Akron, Hudson, Kent and Barberton.

Mayor Don Walters said joining the other 121 DORA districts in Ohio is a natural step for a city that welcomes thousands to its annual downtown celebrations.

"We've actually had a sort of a DORA for years, with events such as our Oktoberfest and Irish Festival," Walters said. "These are like small DORAs. This would be very similar."

Ohio passed legislation allowing communities to create a DORA in March 2022. Under the Ohio Revised Code, a DORA can include up to 640 contiguous acres in a municipality or township with more than 50,000 residents. Cuyahoga Falls has about 51,000 residents. The city can create up to six outdoor refreshment areas.

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Who got the ball rolling?

The DORA request was initiated by the Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership. Kaylee Piper, its executive director, said the zone will enhance the area's appeal as a Northeast Ohio destination.

"In almost five years, downtown Cuyahoga Falls has grown from blighted buildings to a thriving and vibrant community filled with small businesses, residents, and visitors," Piper said before last week's meeting. "It promotes the movement of people to find their new favorite place while waiting for a table at a restaurant or simply wanting to walk around to enjoy the scenery."

The partnership would purchase 16-ounce clear recyclable cups and identifying stickers for its participants, as well as distribute related materials, such as door decals.

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The city would supply entrance and exit signs at major access points for the zone. Patrons would be permitted to move about the DORA with their specially marked cups from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

This is a draft of the decals that visitors to downtown Cuyahoga Falls might see if the city approves creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.
This is a draft of the decals that visitors to downtown Cuyahoga Falls might see if the city approves creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.

Businesses largely support DORA proposal, but some residents foresee litter issues

Of the around 60 individuals who came to last week's meeting on the DORA, most spoke in favor of the proposal, saying it will bring more people downtown.

One business owner who supported the DORA proposal was Nora Custer, who owns Natural Wonders at 2217 Front St. In an interview before the meeting, Custer said she saw the proposal as a way of building on the progress made when Front Street reopened to vehicle traffic in 2019.

"It will be an opportunity for people to come downtown," Custer said. "They've done a lot to open the street back up. Anything that will bring people to the area should be encouraged. There are a lot of small businesses that have been launched throughout the city."

Andrew Jucha, an assistant manager at The Farmer's Rail talks about the proposed DORA along Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls. He says his business has benefited from a similar outdoor drinking area in Hudson.
Andrew Jucha, an assistant manager at The Farmer's Rail talks about the proposed DORA along Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls. He says his business has benefited from a similar outdoor drinking area in Hudson.

Andrew Jucha, the assistant manager at The Farmer's Rail at 2231 Front St., said Hudson's DORA has been a boon for the restaurant's operations in that city.

"It's been beneficial," Jucha said, adding that Cuyahoga Falls should benefit as well. "I feel it would bring people down, encourage people to try new places."

However, Karen Davies, the owner of Secret Past at 2233 Front St., said she worried about the temptation for some to give alcohol to those who are underage.

"There are a lot of teens that come to the downtown," Davies said.

Several residents voiced concerns about additional trash coming on to their property.

Sara Kline, the city's superintendent of parks and recreation, said additional trash receptacles would be set out in the DORA. Other communities have done the same, she said, and that has helped to limit problems.

A pedestrian walks past The Works on the Riverfront on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls. The proposed DORA runs along Front Street from Moe's Restaurant on the north end to HiHO Brewing Co. on south end.
A pedestrian walks past The Works on the Riverfront on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls. The proposed DORA runs along Front Street from Moe's Restaurant on the north end to HiHO Brewing Co. on south end.

Walters said he's heard from police departments in communities with DORAs that the zones are not problematic.

Diana Colavecchio, the director of community development, shared a statement from Police Chief Jack Davis saying he was optimistic about the DORA as well after talking with the police chiefs in Barberton, Hudson and Kent.

DORA would be modified or paused during city's signature festivals

If there is a special event, such as the Irish Festival, Festa Italiana or Oktoberfest, the DORA would be modified or suspended during the period of the event, city officials said. The DORA also would be suspended for events such as Trick Or Treat night and the holiday tree lighting festival.

"We wanted to add those events because of the large number of children these events can attract," Kline said.

Michael Namsick, the chairman for the Riverfront Irish Festival, emphasized that suspensions of DORA privileges are critical for the success of special events like his.

"There is no gate charge," Namsick said. "There's no charge for parking. This is a free event. The only revenue we have coming in to support this is our beer sales. Entertainment alone is $40,000 for the three days."

There are legal considerations as well, he said.

"Total liability is $90,000 even before we pour the first beer," he said. "We can't pay for someone who gets drunk elsewhere, then comes here and falls and breaks something."

Hearing scheduled for public discussion of DORA

Walters said "there was little interest from the community" when the DORA idea first arose, but curiosity gradually grew. He said the city could scrap the concept if it launches and does not work as hoped.

A public hearing is scheduled for April 17; the soonest council could vote on the issue is April 24. Council typically meets the first through fourth Mondays in the meeting rooms in the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium, 2345 Fourth St.

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Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cuyahoga Falls could add DORA beverage zone downtown