Both houses of the Kansas Legislature have approved a bill that will allow municipalities to establish areas where alcohol can be consumed outside of restaurants and bars. It’s a walk and drink concept popular in a number of tourist districts, like in New Orleans’ Bourbon Street District or Kansas City Missouri’s downtown Power and Light District.
The bill is similar to the current law that allows for event permits and requires an applicant to apply annually and pay a $100 fee. That law is the one that allowed Wichita’s Riverfest to have drinking areas. However, that law — meant for special events — limited the number of days the district could be in place.
This bill will allow cities to designate permanent drinking areas where restaurants and bars are clustered as “common consumption areas, and allow customers to take their drink with them, to walk to the next spot, stroll to an art gallery or to gather in a common area.
Wichita City Council supported the bill and would designate the city’s Old Town District as a “common consumption area.” For Topeka, the concept seems a logical fit for the North Topeka Art District.
Lenexa City officials said approval of “consumptions districts” is essential for the success of their new development the Lenexa Public market. The largely indoor venue attached to Lenexa City Center will feature numerous “micro” restaurants and bars and share a common space and outdoor patio.
As written, alcohol would only be allowed off a participating seller’s property if it was marked with a special logo.
Although both the Kansas House and Senate have passed versions of this bill, differences in the two bills will require the Kansas House to vote on the measure again, before it’s sent to the governor for his signature.