PODA on Tap for Parkersburg? Municipal Planning Commission gives its green light for outdoor alcohol district
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PARKERSBURG -- The Parkersburg Municipal Planning Commission passed an ordinance establishing a Private Outdoor Designated Area (PODA) along Market Street. between Third and 9½ streets during Friday afternoon's meeting.
Similar to the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) established in Marietta in 2021, Private Outdoor Designated Areas can be established by municipalities under a law enacted this year by the West Virginia Legislature.
In those zones, alcohol may be consumed on public property as long as it is in an approved container, purchased from a licensed permit holder and consumed within the designated time frame.
Parkersburg's proposed PODA would be dubbed the Market Street Designated Area (MSDA). Under the ordinance, sales and consumption of alcohol would be allowed in that area from 4-11 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays between April 1 and Oct. 31.
The designation would allow establishments with a Class A license from the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration to apply for a Class S4 permit to participate. There are four such licensed establishments – the Blennerhassett Hotel and Spa, The Cocktail Bar, Parkersburg Brewing Company and Wine Down on Market – in the proposed area.
"I would like to mention that the cups that will be used for the designated area will be aluminum to ensure recyclability," said Connor LeVelle, City Planner, about the MSDA cups. "Those single-use red solo cups are not recyclable at the Parkersburg Recycling Center because of the type of plastic used for them."
LaVelle also discussed that the PODA dates and times would be put on hold during festivals like the Taste of Parkersburg, because legislation states that the two can't run at the same time.
Several people spoke during the public forum part of the meeting to state their support and favor for the ordinance for PODA.
"Huntington and Charleston have both reported that neither of them had issues with disorderliness because of PODA," Amanda Stevens, executive director of Downtown PKB, said. "But they have had evidence of economic increase during business times of PODA. I think it would be great if we had this so Parkersburg could keep pace with Charleston and Huntington."
"Discovery World usually has an audience of young kids, but we are in favor of PODA because of our future development with our theater and outdoor additions," said Wendy Shriver, executive director of Discovery World. "We have recently purchased the old Parkersburg Senior Center and will be developing a program for all audiences in that area, so PODA will be perfect."
During the public forum, Parkersburg Municipal Planning Commission President Charlie Matthews yielded the chair to share a letter of support for PODA from the Actors Guild of Parkersburg.
After they entered the Commissioners' Forum, the commissioners also voiced opinions of support and had a few questions about additions to the ordinance. Sean Andrews asked if they could extend the area to include the Knights of Columbus, to which Ryan Barber said that they could ask them later on if they would like to extend the area to include them. John Reed asked if they could amend the ordinance to expand the amount of days included in the time allotted to those participating in PODA from Thursday through Saturday to Monday through Saturday, like those of Charleston. The commission discussed the amendment and motioned to approve it, making the days and hours of PODA to 4-11 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays.
Once the amendment was made, the commission moved to pass the ordinance and did so.
Also discussed at Friday's meeting was the possibility of changing the time and date of their regular meetings which are 12:30 p.m. every third Friday of the month in Council Chambers.
Commissioners went back and forth about why and when the time should be changed, because of the public's commitments to work, but made a final decision to leave the time and date as it currently remains.
LaVelle also announced that Commissioner Francis Angelos has retired from the Commission and that he "wishes him the best."
"He was very loyal," Matthews said. "Thank you so very much for your service."
Gretchen Dowler can be reached at gdowler@newsandsentinel.com