Adams Morgan Moratorium Zone Resolution of 2024
The resolution intends to balance local business interests with community needs by controlling the number of taverns and clubs amidst changing demographics and rising concerns about public safety and noise. The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) is tasked with enforcing this moratorium, ensuring compliance with the newly defined boundaries and restrictions. By retaining the moratorium on nightclub licenses while allowing for an increase in tavern licenses, the bill is designed to respond to community feedback while also allowing some flexibility for existing businesses.
PR26-0011, known as the Adams Morgan Moratorium Zone Approval Resolution of 2024, aims to renew the existing moratorium on new alcoholic beverage licenses in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington D.C. The resolution extends the moratorium for another three years and increases the cap on the number of tavern licenses from 10 to 16. All other previous restrictions within this zone would remain unchanged, preserving the local regulation framework established in previous years. This bill comes as a response to concerns voiced by the community regarding the saturation of nightlife establishments in the area.
Notably, the discussions surrounding PR26-0011 included input from various community stakeholders, including the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) and local residents. While some community members support the moratorium as a necessary control on nightlife activity, others argue that the restrictions could stifle economic growth and the variety of services offered in the neighborhood. Previous attempts to request an expansion of the tavern license cap to 25 were ultimately not included in the final version of the bill, reflecting a compromise between regulatory control and business interests.