KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo City Commission has voted in favor of approving an expansion on its outdoor drinking district under the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a virtual meeting Monday night, Commissioners discussed the proposed expansion at length. The district was originally established for parts of the downtown area in August to help businesses continue to receive income.
“When we brought this to you all back in August, our intent was really to have a small pilot area, test it out, see how it worked, and we’ve had really good feedback from the businesses,” Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership President Andrew Haan said. “We think that giving any opportunity for an additional sale right now truly is important.”
Inside the district, customers may purchase an alcoholic beverage from a participating establishment and carry it with them outdoors, provided the drink remains sealed, bears proper markings, is not made of glass, and is limited to 16 ounces.
Haan added that the measure is experimental, and can change based on new surfacing issues.
“The intent was to be malleable and flexible with this and see what works, and if there are things that don’t, to consider changing them.” Haan said.
The current district encompasses part of the Kalamazoo Mall from the north end down to the Blue Dolphin restaurant on Burdick Street, as well as Michigan Avenue from the Radisson hotel to the Wild Bull bar.
According to city documents, the proposed expansion will allow more businesses to participate, particularly those in the northeastern part of downtown.
The new district layout does not include Bronson Park, which was one topic of discussion during the meeting.
Commissioner Chris Praedel had suggested Bronson Park be included in the social district based on its location to the downtown area, and that it could be similar to other outdoor drinking events held at Arcadia Creek Festival Place. City code allows for the sale and consumption of alcohol in parks when a specially-licensed event is taking place.
“The prized gem of downtown this season, from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve, are going to effectively be able to enjoy downtown with their labeled cup, but not be able to do so in Bronson Park,” Praedel said. “Again, this is the period where Bronson Park truly is like the draw downtown. We don’t have the lightning ceremony, we’re not going to have New Years fest as we normally would, so you’re going to have people more on happenstance going out on a date night with potentially their alcohol walking around downtown. I think potentially, we could be helping these small businesses if we were able to carve that out.”
Praedel added that there might be some challenges in the zoning language as currently established.
“In order for us to do this and carve it out, we would also have to address that parks alcohol ordinance,” Praedel said. “I really think this would be something that could be a real attraction tool for our downtown this holiday season, and allow it in a way where people can socially distance.”
Praedel, along with other Commissioners, also noted that the proposal should still be passed regardless.
Ultimately, the measure to expand the outdoor drinking district was unanimously approved by the Commission. However, Commissioners also passed an amendment that the expansion can include Bronson Park later on at a time when the park ordinance will allow for it. That amendment also passed unanimously.
The hours for the outdoor social district are listed as seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The boundaries and rules are maintained by the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership.
A map of the district as currently expanded can be viewed below:
Expanded outdoor drinking district map as approved on Monday, November 16, 2020. (Image via City of Kalamazoo documents).
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