COMMUNITY ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS (CEDs) in West Chester Township

Community Entertainment Districts (CEDs) are designated areas within West Chester Township that offer a mix of entertainment, retail, cultural, social, educational, and arts establishments. These districts are designed to bring together a variety of venues, such as hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, museums, performing arts theaters, sports facilities, and more, to create vibrant, connected spaces for residents and visitors alike.

CEDs in West Chester Township:

• The Voice of America CED
• The Town Centre CED
• The Union Center Princeton Glendale CED
• The Streets of West Chester CED

Background:

State law limits the number of liquor permits issued within a jurisdiction based on population size. The most common type of liquor permit for full-service restaurants is the D-5 permit, which allows establishments to serve beer, wine, and mixed drinks. As the availability of these permits becomes limited, it can hinder the establishment of new restaurants.

To address this, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) can establish CEDs to create a new, geographically limited allocation of liquor permits similar to the D-5 permit. This strategy promotes economic growth by offering businesses in these districts access to permits that help them thrive.

Key Points to Know:

• The CED designation creates a new pool of liquor permits specifically within the district, allowing full-service restaurants to apply for permits comparable to the D-5 permit.
• Liquor permits within the CED are issued by the Ohio Division of Liquor Control. Click for more information on the application process.
• The CED designation does not exempt establishments from other state requirements and operational controls governing liquor-serving businesses.
• The new D-5j permits allocated through the CED do not impact the normal, city-wide D-5 permit allocation. These permits are unique to the CED and will remain within the district.
• CEDs are not associated with open container laws and should not be confused with Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORAs), which have separate legal guidelines.
• Existing restaurants with traditional D-5 permits in a CED can choose to sell their permits and replace them with the lower-cost D-5j permits provided by the CED.

Benefits of CEDs:

The creation of CEDs offers significant opportunities for economic development and growth in West Chester Township. By providing easier access to liquor permits within specific districts, the township supports the expansion of dining, entertainment, and tourism-related businesses. These districts help foster a lively and diverse community, benefiting both businesses and residents.

Voice of America - Community Entertainment District Map

Union Centre/Princeton Glendale Community Entertainment District

Streets of West Chester - Community Entertainment District

Towne Centre - Community Entertainment District