Outdoor drinking legislation taking shape in Charleston

The Charleston City Council is in the process of passing a bill to create Private Outdoor Designated Areas around the city.

Establishments in these areas, often called PODAs, can be approved to serve alcoholic drinks in specific cups that people can carry with them around the area and into other businesses who allow them.

The bill was discussed Thursday at the Committee on Rules & Ordinances. Committee Chairman Chad Robinson plans to hold another meeting at 5 p.m. Oct. 2 to vote on the bill before that night's city council meeting. If approved by the committee, the bill could with a vote by the full council.

Business owners interested in being included in the PODA will meet at 9 a.m. next Thursday at Adelphia’s to discuss the bill.

PODAs were legalized by the state Legislature this year. Huntington has already created a PODA in its downtown. Other cities around the country also use PODAs.

The first proposed Charleston PODA is downtown, covering Summers and Capitol streets between Kanawha Boulevard and Lee Street. Haddad Riverfront Park, Slack Plaza and part of Hale Street also are included. A draft map of the area is available on the city’s website under meetings. There are already plans to expand it.

Smaller PODAs are proposed for the Elk City district of the West Side, on Washington Street from Crescent Road to Pennsylvania Avenue, and on Bridge Road in South Hills.

Robinson asked for a fourth PODA covering Capitol Market and the area around Go-Mart Ballpark.

Businesses interested in serving alcohol in the PODA would need to apply for an S4 license from the state Alcohol and Beverage Control Administration.

Under the current bill, all PODAs would operate on Thursday and Friday from 4-10 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Under state law, the bill has to include the proposed amount of city personnel needed at each PODA. In Charleston, this includes four police officers and two public works employees in the downtown PODA, and two police officers and one public works employee in the smaller PODA.

After questions from council members, city attorney Kevin Baker said there was room for flexibility on how security was provided in these areas so that police aren’t taken away from other areas where they are needed.

Baker also pointed out that there could be some hiccups with the ABCA’s permitting for fairs and festivals coexisting with the PODA.

Other issues, such as the design and material of the cups and signage, are still being discussed. The city manager will have some rulemaking authority with the PODAs.

Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said her administration has looked at other cities with PODAs like Cincinnati and Dublin, Ohio.

“The best cities that we’ve seen have robust communication to business owners -- what you can do, what you can’t do -- but also to the patrons, too,” she said. “Lots of communication for sure needs to be done.”

Kim Rossi owns the building with Stella’s Gelateria and the old Blossom Dairy Co. She opened her business in 2016 because she wanted to see the downtown expand and thrive, she said after the meeting. She said she’s seeing the Charleston that she grew up in coming back after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think it’s just going to bring more revitalization to downtown Charleston and more people who want to come,” she said. “I think it will be a great addition.