January 11, 2021
By Mike Kruzman / news@whmi.com
Brighton City Council is ready to take another look at social districts that could prove to be a lifeline for bars and restaurants during the pandemic.
Last summer, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in an executive order, allowed for the creation of social districts that would allow for open carrying and consumption of alcohol in communities that wish to do so in designated common areas. This would help bars and restaurants that are being hindered by pandemic rules on capacity, when they are allowed to even be open.
A subcommittee, last year, worked on details of what such a district would look like in Brighton, and the regulations that would be applied, with help from the Brighton Police Department. Police Chief Rob Bradford said, at a City Council meeting in August, that he was supportive of the district, as long as it kept posted hours of noon to 10pm. After 10pm, he says Brightonâs demographic changes downtown. The proposed boundary, last August, included downtown Main Street, and then stretch down Grand River, as far as on the west side as to include Stillwater Grill, The Wooden Spoon, and Single Barrel Social. Participating restaurants could sell one 12oz drink to an individual in a specially designated and marked cup. Patrons would be allowed to take and consume that beverage in common areas that include the area around the Mill Pond, the tridge, and the sidewalk behind the Grand River restaurants. Open alcohol would not be permitted on the Grand River sidewalk though, which led many on Council to believe could be confusing.