Time-out on social district decision provides time for additional study, input

Jun. 30—Tuesday's decision by town officials to postpone a decision on a proposed social district for downtown Waynesville provides a welcome opportunity to push pause on what has become an overly heated hot-button issue. It allows council members time for additional study.

It's understandable that some folks have questions about this new animal called "social district." After all, the notion of a defined section of town where customers could carry an adult beverage purchased at a participating establishment and stroll the sidewalks and stores has been around for only a couple of years.

Business North Carolina reported in January that 18 towns across the state had established social districts since they became legal in 2021. That's when the Republican-led General Assembly passed legislation enabling municipalities to do so and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper signed it into law.

What is surprising — and disappointing — is the level of vitriol emanating from some opponents of the proposal, despite bipartisan support at the state level. Based on some comments, you'd think the town is proposing a socialist — not social — district.

Once again, we are hearing the same tired arguments heard when the brunch bill was the latest change threatening to turn Waynesville into a small-town version of N'awlins or Vegas.

Remember the so-called brunch bill, which allowed restaurants to sell adult beverages beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday instead of the blue-law tradition of "no Sunday alcohol sales" before noon? Pastors complained and non-drinkers wrung their hands and clutched their pearls in concern.

But guess what happened when Waynesville adopted the brunch bill in 2017? Absolutely nothing. Church-goers still went to church. Brunch-goers could go to brunch and sip a bloody Mary or mimosa. Nobody got hurt. Life went on. Soon afterward, Canton and Maggie Valley approved brunch bills.

Currently, an online petition seeking signatures against the social district features an image of a passed-out drunk laying on a curb, surrounded by bottles of booze. Critics allege that a social district will lead to rampant public intoxication, urine and vomit in the streets, drunken fights, shattered glass and discarded cans.

While I endorse the concept of "never say never," I just don't see that happening here. This is not something for the booze and brawl pack; rather, it's aimed at the wine-and-cheese or craft beer crowd.

Existing laws already prohibit public intoxication and urination. And, here in Western North Carolina, neighboring Sylva has implemented a social district, with no reported uptick in crime or problems since it went into effect in February 2022.

With a large population of college students at nearby Western Carolina University, you would think a town like Sylva would experience more alcohol-related problems than little ol' Waynesville. Or are opponents implying those of us here in Haywood can't hold our liquor?

Other North Carolina municipalities that have social districts — including large cities — have had few to no problems arise. "I meet regularly with our police department's patrol staff, we have an officer stationed downtown and we haven't had any issues with security. All the feedback has been great," Hickory official David Leonetti told Business North Carolina.

Kannapolis has a similar story. "It's not that people are showing up and just drinking and drinking and drinking. You're having a glass of wine or a beer outside at a table. It's not anything excessive," city spokesperson Annette Privette Keller told the magazine.

It's probably no secret where I stand on the issue; the photo accompanying this column offers a clue. So, here's a suggestion I shared with a council member prior to Tuesday's public hearing.

Set up a trial run of, say, six months and see what transpires. If Waynesville experiences a surge in problems associated with the social district (and I seriously doubt that will happen), consider it a failed experiment and rescind it.

During this pilot phase, council might also consider shrinking the size of the district to keep it within a smaller — perhaps more palatable — footprint and reducing the number days and hours folks can walk and sip. But to summarily dismiss the idea after one public hearing would be a disservice.

Let's face it, folks — with the countywide economic tsunami to wash across Haywood County for years after the paper mill's closing, we would all be wise to remember that tourism, like it or not, remains one of our biggest industries. We should do all we can to help local businesses that depend on out-of-town dollars survive.

Bill Studenc, who began his career in journalism and communications at The Mountaineer in 1983, retired in January 2021 as chief communications officer at Western Carolina University. He now writes about life in the mountains of Western North Carolina.