AUSTINTOWN — Trustees have tentatively accepted a plan to ease restrictions on outdoor alcoholic beverage consumption in one of the township’s commercial districts.

The proposed “Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area” (DORA) would allow patrons to enjoy beer and cocktails during special events hosted by Quaker Steak and Lube, Youngstown Harley-Davidson and the Biker Brewhouse located inside the motorcycle shop.

The DORA applies to those three businesses, as well as Cracker Barrel and the two vacant lots around Quaker.

“The trustees’ thinking on this is that, given the potential for development in that area, it makes sense to put a DORA there,” Trustee Robert Santos said. “We hope it will make that location and Austintown more attractive to prospective businesses.”

For special events, such as Quaker’s Bike Night, or car shows and concerts, the businesses normally need to pay for a special liquor permit that allows drinking beyond the establishment’s doors or enclosed patio areas. With the DORA in place, the businesses’ existing liquor permits extend into the area designated for the special event.

Patrons will be given specially marked cups that allow them to enjoy their drinks out in the parking lot during the event.

Santos said there are also DORAs in Canton, Columbiana, and Dublin, Ohio, but those usually span multiple city blocks. Austintown’s DORA will only apply to the areas specified for each individual special event, and he made it clear that there will still be some strictly enforced rules.

If, for example, an event is hosted by Quaker, but Harley-Davidson and Biker Brewhouse are not participating, patrons will not be able to bring their cups onto the nonparticipating business’ property.

In events when all are participating, a patron still cannot buy a drink at one establishment and bring it into the others.

Santos said the DORA offers opportunities beyond the restaurants’ events.

“We could hold other outdoor events like farmer’s markets or flea markets that allow people to walk around and drink and shop,” he said. “It opens up a lot of possibilities.”

The DORA proposal is currently on file with township fiscal officer Laura Wolfe and is available to the public. The township has 45 days to officially publicize the plan in the newspaper, and up to 60 days after that to vote on it after hearing from the public.