Downtown restaurant and bar owners could see sidewalk-dining restrictions eased yet again this year if the city council adopts recommendations being discussed by the Raleigh Appearance Commission.
Tasked by the city council in December to discuss patio borders, capacity limits, outdoor furniture, and outdoor signage for sidewalk dining areas, on Jan. 13 the commission discussed changes that would end the requirement for restaurants to separate their patios from public sidewalks with stanchions.
Instead, patio space might be set apart by placing medallions into the sidewalk, a move that would allow for easier pedestrian passage, said commission chairman Brian O’Haver.
“We’re trying to figure it out and look at it from our [design] perspective, versus going to the city attorney — though at some point we’re going to have to [do that too],” said O’Haver. “We’ve got a good group of folks here who [are designers]. That’s their focus.”
Discussions about tighter regulations for dining on public spaces began in mid-May of last year, when residents complained about overcrowding, noise, and sidewalk disturbances downtown.
The city initially proposed banning sidewalk seating at bars (but not restaurants), and after much protest, it enacted a pilot program in August requiring stanchions, maximum capacity limits, and curfews for all dining areas on city sidewalks.
In December, the council relaxed the curfews, but called for further discussions before removing stanchion stipulations or changing capacity limits.
Some Fayetteville Street residents, who were satisfied with the decreased noise levels during the city’s test of stanchions and curfews, worry that fewer restrictions would signal a step in the wrong direction.
“What concerns me is that a holistic view isn’t being taken in this,” said Fayetteville Street resident Will Marks. “Nobody wants to see businesses punished, singled out, or demonized. And I don’t think anybody wants to see residents treated that way. But residents have had to put up with sleep deprivation, which is a recognized health threat. What we would like is the same amount of consideration in this issue that says whatever is working [helped the noise level drop].”
Others who live downtown say the regulations now being considered could still use some tweaking for the sake of both residents and business owners.
“I think this conversation is taking place … because there were pieces of this ordinance that worked really well, and there were pieces of this ordinance that really need some work,” said Ashley Melville, director of business development for the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. “And so I don’t think that either side is being ignored, or is being influenced heavily in any direction.”
Ultimately, businesses want a practical solution that works for residents, merchants, and enforcers, owners of several downtown bars and restaurants say. Removing physical stanchion requirements will allow bars to maintain order more efficiently.
“I don’t think anyone wants to go back to the way it was, where the entire sidewalk was covered with people standing and drinking,” said Ben Yanessa, co-owner of Fayetteville Street’s Paddy O’Beers. “No one is asking for that.”
The Appearance Commission will continue the discussions at 3 p.m. Jan. 20 in the Raleigh Municipal Building.
Kari Travis (@karilynntravis) is an associate editor of Carolina Journal.