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October 2, 2020

South Windsor looks to expand outdoor restaurant seating limits post pandemic

By Vin Gallo, Journal Inquirer

South Windsor's Town Planner Michele Lipe has proposed a permanent outdoor seating regulation, where the town would require businesses to come before the commission with a site plan for any outdoor seating greater than 25 tables.

The goal of the change is to allow additional seating on a permanent basis, ideally by the spring, Lipe said, adding that the change proposal would first need to go through a public hearing later this year.

While it’s not pandemic related, the town is considering this change as social distancing from the novel coronavirus has shown that some businesses could take on more outdoor seating permanently, Lipe said.

The PZC’s current regulation for permanent outdoor seating is limited to six tables. Anything over that number needs to be brought forward for approval by town officials.

At the commission’s special meeting on Tuesday, Lipe said this call for an expansion of tables is not related to the temporary outdoor seating arrangement currently in place due to COVID-19 safety protocols. Such temporary street seating currently in place at some establishments will not be affected, Lipe said. The current situation brought on by the pandemic has resulted in the state’s executive order to allow more seating over local zoning approval on a temporary basis, Lipe explained.

PZC Chairman Bart Pacekonis at Tuesday’s meeting raised questions about storage of these seating areas, expressing concern that excessive umbrellas and other patio equipment would be an eyesore or could blow around during a storm. Currently the commission has no requirement for storage, Pacekonis said.

Although exact language for the text change hasn’t been officially sorted out, applicants who desire more than 25 tables, would need to identify their own area to store their outdoor equipment during the winter, Lipe said today.

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