T-L Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH Lisa Amos, an employee of Audrey’s Avenue in St. Clairsville, prepares a drink for a customer. If the city is approved for a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, Audrey’s would participate along with Newellstown Diner.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — St. Clairsville could soon become a DORA-friendly city.

In February, the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, committee — composed of council members Kristi Lipscomb, Mike Smith and J.C. Thrash — recommended that council authorize Law Director Joseph Vavra and Planning and Zoning Director Tom Murphy to draw up an application to the state of Ohio for a DORA permit.

At the time, Lipscomb said the proposed days and hours for DORA operation are 11 a.m. to 11p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-7 p.m. Sunday.

The state allows for a city council to set up a specific area, usually downtown, involving businesses such as restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages. The Ohio General Assembly amended the Ohio Revised Code (Section 4301.82), effective March 23, 2022, to create this exemption from certain open container provisions.

On Monday, Mayor Kathryn Thalman received approval from St. Clairsville City Council to file the application to create a DORA within the city.

“I’m happy to see the legislation for the DORA passed because that will open up our town a little bit more for venues to be able to have customers enjoy alcoholic beverages in a responsible manner,” Thalman said.

Now that the application has been approved by council, it will be sent to Ohio’s Department of Commerce to be reviewed and accepted or denied.

“We’ve gotten it to the point where the state will look at it,” Thalman said.

The DORA would allow businesses to sell alcohol to patrons with a plastic cup stating the business’s name and that it is an authorized DORA participating location. Customers could leave that business with the cup containing an alcoholic beverage and walk around the permitted DORA area.

With the addition of the newly opened Audrey’s Avenue, St. Clairsville meets the requirement of having at least two businesses that sell alcohol in the perimeter of the DORA. Each participating business must have clear signage on its entrance door window or storefront window explaining that it is participating in DORA events. Newellstown Diner is the second business that will also be participating in the DORA if it’s approved.

The DORA would encompass approximately 14.3 acres from the intersection of North Marietta Street and St. David’s Alley and extending east along St. David’s Alley to its intersection with North Sugar Street. It would reach to the south along North Sugar Street and South Sugar Street to the intersection of South Sugar Street and St. Patrick’s Alley, then proceed west along St. Patrick’s Alley to its intersection with South Marietta Street, and back to the original starting point of the intersection of North Marietta Street and St. David’s Alley.

“It’ll be nice to open up the venue if you want to enjoy a cocktail while you’re strolling around any of our festivals,” Thalman said.

Although there isn’t a timeline for when the city will know if the DORA is approved or denied by the state, Thalman said that she feels confident that St. Clairsville will be approved.