A downtown Lawrence bar will get a new outdoor patio, and city commissioners are preparing for a possible onslaught of similar requests from other businesses.

Tuesday night the City Commission unanimously voted to approve an outdoor patio extension for Quinton’s Bar and Deli, 615 Mass. An existing patio at the back of the business will be renovated and a second deck will be added.

Although Quinton’s general manager Greg Mann has said the patio request had nothing to do with the new city ordinance banning smoking inside businesses and public buildings, commissioners think it might be a catalyst for other requests. They think other businesses will want to build outdoor patios so smokers will have a place to eat and drink.

The city should prepare for such requests by developing standards for deciding how to respond, Commissioner David Schauner said.

“What matrix, if you will, are we going to look at to decide future expansions?” he asked.

As for Quinton’s, commissioners approved the patio request despite questions one nearby resident had about possible excess noise if the bar allowed a band to play on the patio.

“I don’t see them doing it, but we’d rather not restrict it,” said Quinton’s patio architect Paul Werner. “I think there are other things that can restrict it.”

Commissioners agreed, noting that the city’s noise ordinance would be adequate for addressing potential noise problems.

6News video: Another downtown business seeking outdoor dining option (07-12-04)

“I don’t think we should be second-guessing a business plan,” Commissioner David Dunfield said before voting for approval of the patio. “We have no objective way of measuring the business need of it.”