By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
Canal Winchester is adding to its development tools by creating a pair of community entertainment districts.
Intended for both the Diley and Gender road areas, the district designation promotes economic development and business revitalization by establishing the opportunity for 15 new all-encompassing liquor permits in each entertainment district.
The permits will be granted to establishments with three-quarter of their business in food sales, which expands opportunities for businesses catering to the dining and entertainment sector.
During a Jan. 19 Canal Winchester City Council work session, Development Director Lucas Haire said the potential businesses include hotels, restaurants and movie theatres. The districts also present an opportunity for already-established businesses to upgrade their current permit.
“It can be done as long as 75 percent of sales are from food,” Haire said. “This (pair of resolutions) is just to allow me to get the process going.”
Once approved by the city, the paperwork is forwarded to the state Department of Liquor Control to establish the districts. The city will also hold public hearings prior to finalization of the two districts, which are situated in the busiest commercial corridors in Canal Winchester.
“This is a good thing,” said Councilman Bob Clark.
According to Haire, the D5J liquor permits are only available in the Gender/33 and Diley Road districts and are on a first-come, first-served basis. They cannot be put on hold by an applicant for more than a year and are only available in the periphery of the city.
“We’re not looking to establish anything (another entertainment district) in the downtown area,” said Haire. “By March or April, we should have everything completed.
Councilwoman Bobbie Mershon said the resolutions establishing the pair of community entertainment districts are a first step.
“We’ll have many more discussions about this,” Mershon said.
