AMHERST — Discussion surrounding a potential Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, surfaced during the May 11 Amherst City Council meeting, signaling that the issue may be moving toward future consideration.
The topic came up as part of Mayor Mark Costilow’s report to council, where he addressed the possibility of establishing a DORA within the city and opened the door for further discussion with both council members and residents.
Costilow encouraged anyone with questions or input on the matter to contact his office, saying he is willing to meet and talk through concerns or ideas related to the proposal.
While no formal legislation was introduced or voted on during the meeting, the mayor indicated that additional steps in the process may still need to be addressed before any plan moves forward.
He said he is “truly concerned” about the current approach and suggested that there may be gaps that need to be worked through. He also noted that changes could be made that would better benefit both the downtown area and the city as a whole.
Costilow added that he is personally opposed to the idea of a DORA, but said he would still be willing to assist with the legislative process to help ensure it is implemented correctly if pursued.
Council members did not respond to the mayor’s comments during the meeting.
The discussion signals that a DORA proposal could come before council at a future date.
