The above map shows the boundaries of the Marysville Outdoor Refreshment Area (MORA), as well as businesses included in it, presented to Marysville City Council Monday. Note that the legend has the Eagles Lodge labeled with an eight, but on the map it’s erroneously labeled with a nine.
(Image submitted)
––––
It looks like Uptown Marysville could soon get livelier during special events.
Marysville City Council held the first reading of legislation Monday that would institute a MORA, or Marysville Outdoor Refreshment Area. The MORA would be a set district where, during certain events, residents could freely walk with an alcoholic beverage.
City manager Terry Emery said the city is comfortable going through the normal three readings for the legislation.
“Our goal is to possibly have it in place by the last Uptown Friday Nights event this year, which would be the October event,” Emery said.
The idea was initially presented to council at its April work session, and on Monday, officials told council how it’s evolved since then.
Emery said the city has done “a lot of leg work” since the MORA was first shown to council. Since then, the boundaries of the MORA have expanded. Initially, the district consisted of Main Street from Fourth to Sixth streets, and Fifth Street from Court to Oak streets.
The new map covers Main Street from Fourth down to Seventh streets. While the Fifth Street boundaries have generally stayed the same, the Marathon gas station is no longer in the drinking district.
The district shown to council in April did not include Partner’s Park. At that time, officials said since the park already has a separate liquor permit, the two couldn’t overlap, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Events and Recreation Coordinator Amanda Morris said since then, things have changed. Ohio House Bill 522, which deals with these sorts of outdoor refreshment areas, would allow the MORA and Partner’s Park permits to “synchronize.”
Law Director Tim Aslaner said the bill passed on June 20, which would make it effective by Sept. 20. At that time, the city will act as any other liquor establishment in the MORA, meaning residents will be able leave the park with a drink, but not enter with one.
Emery said Morris and Stanford have spoken to many Uptown businesses, and incorporated businesses that weren’t included initially.
At the April work session, council members asked the city to reach out to local pastors for input. Morris said officials have not yet discussed the MORA with local Christian leaders, and have not received any feedback from them.
“We have yet to formalize a meeting with them,” she said.
Morris said Jason Stanford with the Office of Economic Development has helped significantly.
“We’ve taken into account a lot of the comments that were brought to us, so we’re not opposed if there’s any questions or any suggested amendments,” Emery said. “Although, we believe that we’re pretty darn close to having something in place here that can put the framework together.”
Earlier in the meeting, council passed a resolution adopting the new City Comprehensive Plan developed by OHM Advisors. Councilperson Tracy Richardson praised the work done on the plan, but asked that expansion of infrastructure alongside residential and commercial growth be bumped up in priority.
While matching infrastructure growth to other types of development is listed as the focus, Richardson felt it should be a more immediate goal.
She said making sure the city’s infrastructure supports its growth with be one of council’s “biggest challenges in the future.”
City Planner Chad Flowers said the city could make that change.
In other council news:
-Emery reminded council of the upcoming July 4 Parade, to step off from American Legion Park at 10 a.m. The parade will end at the courthouse parking lot.