T-L File Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Gulla’s Next Door is one of seven Bellaire businesses now permitted to offer special events during which customers will be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages in a designated outdoor area. Legislation making the option available to permit holders was approved in September by Bellaire Village Council.

BELLAIRE — Village Council took steps in September to create an “outdoor refreshment area” in the downtown and later approved the first request to put the zone to use.

The resolution allows businesses located between the park and Gulla’s on Belmont Street as well as those on Union and 32nd streets to have outdoor areas where customers can consume alcoholic beverages during allotted times on the weekends. And while council members considered allowing participating businesses to have outdoor alcohol consumption from 5-11 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays every weekend from May-October, members ultimately decided the designated outdoor refreshment area, or DORA, would only be enacted for certain events.

Mayor Ed Marling said a police officer would patrol the area to ensure businesses and customers abide by the rules.

Councilwoman Janet Richardson said the Bellaire Business Association had agreed to pay for police enforcement during the allotted time frame. Marling said Police Chief Dick Flanagan had told him that covering the “two-block area” would be no trouble for the department.

After the legislation was approved, council received its first request earlier this month to utilize it.

Clerk Mary Hagiloizou informed council that Sean Flanagan, owner of Flanagan’s sports bar on Belmont Street, submitted a verbal request to utilize the DORA on March 17 for St. Patrick’s Day.

Richardson noted that this was the village’s first official request from a business to conduct a DORA. She inquired as to whether Flanagan had “put anything in writing” regarding the request and suggested that be requested. The village requires 90 days’ notice from a participating business.

It is at council’s discretion to approve any DORA requests. And council members agreed that an application should be completed prior to approval.

Doyle made a motion to approve Flanagan’s request for a DORA, contingent on the proper paperwork being filed. The motion was unanimously passed, and Flanagan’s will be permitted to offer outdoor alcohol consumption on March 17.