Downtown Morganton Social District

Maintenance & Operations Plan

Introduction

The North Carolina General Assembly authorized the creation of social districts by local governments, effective September 8, 2021, through Session Law 2021-150. These districts permit the sale of alcoholic beverages by licensed establishments (such as bars, breweries, and restaurants) in designated containers for consumption within a defined common area. Downtown Morganton is proposing to establish a social district called “Downtown Morganton Social District.” This Maintenance and Operations Plan outlines the management and upkeep of the Downtown Morganton Social District and will be submitted to the North Carolina ABC Commission and made available on the City of Morganton's website.

Management

The Downtown Morganton Social District will be jointly managed by the City of Morganton, Morganton Public Safety, and the Morganton Main Street Office. 

Businesses within the Social District have the option to participate in the program by displaying a provided window sign. Four sign options will be available: (1) "Beverages Welcome” (2)"Sold Here & Welcomed Here," (3)"Sold Here & No Outside Beverage," and (4) "Please No Beverages." These signs will be distributed by the City of Morganton Main Street Office and adhere to a standardized design.

The following rules apply to all properties within the Social District:

1. A permittee may be included in the Social District even if it chooses to exclude open containers of alcoholic beverages purchased from other permittees in the social district. 

2. A permittee business may elect to allow a customer to bring and consume an alcoholic beverage into their establishment that was purchased at a different participating permittee within the social district.

Proposed Days and Hours of Operation

The Downtown Morganton Social District shall be restricted to Monday through Sunday, from 10am Eastern Standard Time until 10:00pm Eastern Standard Time

Proposed District Boundaries

Exhibit A 

Boundary Signage

Key locations and district boundaries will feature strategically placed signs, optimized for pedestrian viewing while respecting driver visibility and the area's aesthetics. QR codes will be included where they can offer convenient access to additional information on the City's website.

City Property and the Social District 

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage on any property owned, occupied, or controlled by the City of Morganton, unless specifically permitted by the City through the Ordinance adopting the Social District, special event permits, and applicable State law. Any City properties designated as eligible will be signed accordingly.

Participating Businesses with ABC Permits

ABC permit holders whose establishments are within the Downtown Morganton Social District must enter into a License Agreement with the City. This agreement signifies their consent to comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and requirements established by the City of Morganton, the North Carolina ABC Commission, and relevant state statutes. There is no fee associated with applying for this agreement. Participating businesses must receive written confirmation and approval from the City before selling alcoholic beverages for consumption within the social district. 

Information regarding the application process for the License Agreement can be found on the City of Morganton's website at [Insert Future URL for Morganton's Website Here]. 

Businesses seeking a sidewalk dining permit from the City must also apply for a Social District License Agreement and adhere to the social district's rules and regulations if they intend to sell alcohol in their outdoor dining areas.

Any alcoholic beverage sold and purchased for consumption within the Social District shall:

(a) Only be consumed within the boundaries depicted on the Social District Map (b) Be disposed of before the person in possession of the alcoholic beverage exists the Social District. 

(c) All containers must be discarded upon entering any permittee or non-permittee not participating or any permittee that may be participating but not allowing alcohol purchased from a different permittee (Sold Here & No Outside Beverage).

Additionally, the permittee shall only sell and serve alcoholic beverages on its licensed premises.

1. Any sale of an alcoholic beverage for which consumption by the customer is not       for the purpose of entering into the Social District may be poured and consumed within any container the business desires so long as the business meets all applicable laws and regulations. 

Participating Businesses (No ABC Permit)

Participation is voluntary and within the discretion of the property/business owner(s) and at no time is a non-permittee owner located within the boundaries of the Social District required to allow alcohol within its premises. Property/business owners will indicate their participation using one of the provided signs at their choice. 

Security and Enforcement

City of Morganton Public Safety and NC ALE (Alcohol Law Enforcement) Officers will enforce the rules and regulations set forth under this plan. The City retains the right to prohibit an ABC permittee from participating in or suspending a permittee’s ability to participate in the Social District due to violations.

To report potential violations, please call the Morganton Public Safety Department at (828) 438-5290, the N.C. Alcohol Enforcement Division (1.877.ALE.AGENT or 1.877.253.24368) or in the event of an emergency, please call 911.

Sanitation and Maintenance

Trash receptacles are conveniently located throughout Downtown Morganton to encourage proper disposal of used cups and any remaining alcoholic beverages.

Special Events

North Carolina law permits special events within a social district to obtain an ABC permit for alcohol sales within the event's designated area. These special event permittees may also participate in the social district, provided they comply with all applicable North Carolina statutes and City of Morganton regulations, including the requirement that alcohol be provided and consumed in designated social district cups. Special event permittees have the option to allow or disallow participation within their permitted event area. Appropriate signage indicating the permittee's decision regarding social district participation within their event space is required.

Beverages Welcome:

• Tiffany West Interiors
• Aqua B Boutique
• West Union Art Studios
• OSuzannah’s Yarn on Union
• International Moulding
• Viva La Vintage
• Garden Gate Floral & Events
• Stitching Chicks
• The Paper
• Alexander Brooke Boutique
• Paradise Glass
• Patterson’s Amish Furniture
• Oak Hill Iron and Wood
• Thistle & Twig Flowers
• Morganton Natural Foods
• The Grind Café
• Brown Mountain Bottleworks
• Craft’d NC
• Root & Vine
• Fonta Flora Brewery
• Reptile Cantina
• Epic Speakeasy
• Treat
• Sidetracked Taproom
• Thornwell Books
• CoMMA
• Moondog Pizza
• Benjamin's & Libba's
• Green Eggs and Jam
• Burke County Travel & Tourism
• Morganton General Store

Sold Here & No Outside Beverage:

• The Grind Café
• Brown Mountain Bottleworks
• Craft’d NC
• Root & Vine
• Fonta Flora Brewery
• Reptile Cantina
• Epic Speakeasy
• Treat
• The Madness Sushi, Burger & Bar

Sold Here & Welcomed Here:

• Sidetracked Taproom
• Thornwell Books
• CoMMA
• Moondog Pizza
• Uptown Wing Bar
• Toners Irish Pub