Commission to consider sidewalk seating for bars
Lawrence City Commissioners at their meeting Tuesday night will consider removing regulations that ban bars from having sidewalk drinking areas. Enlarge video
A pitcher of Budweiser and a sidewalk seat: it may soon be the newest downtown attraction.
City commissioners at their meeting Tuesday night will consider lifting a long-standing ban against downtown bars applying for sidewalk seating areas. Since 1994, downtown restaurants that make at least 70 percent of their sales from food have been allowed to apply for sidewalk seating areas. But bars and restaurants that don't meet that sales standard have been prohibited.
Now, the rules could undergo a dramatic change by reducing the food sales requirement for all businesses, and eliminating it altogether for about 15 downtown bars. The proposed regulations are being billed as a compromise between the city and bar owners, who have been clamoring for outdoor seating since the city implemented a smoking ban more than three years ago.
"This would help us tremendously," said Jerry Neverve, owner of Red Lyon Tavern, 944 Mass. "The smokers are out there anyway. They might as well be contained in an area."
The proposed regulations, however, wouldn't open the door for every downtown bar to have a sidewalk drinking area. Instead, only downtown bars that can show they have no room to build a back deck or other outside area for their patrons would be allowed to receive a sidewalk seating license.
City Commissioner Rob Chestnut said he thinks only five to six additional businesses will end up qualifying for a sidewalk license.
"I think there will be some change to downtown, but not a significant change," Chestnut said. "I don't think the ambiance will change at all."
Not all downtown merchants are sure. Joe Flannery, president of Weaver's Department Store, said he had questions about the proposal.
"I just think our sidewalk space is precious, and as much foot traffic as we have, I wouldn't like to see it become more congested," Flannery said. "And I think if you are allowing people to drink outside, you are going to have some issues."
Currently, patrons of downtown restaurants with sidewalk seating areas can drink outside, but many of them do so as part of a meal. At the bars, that would not be the case.
Jane Pennington, director of Downtown Lawrence Inc., said her membership recognized that there could be some problems, but generally wanted to give the new arrangement a try.
"Given the smoking ban, this seems like the only fair thing to do for some of these businesses," Pennington said.
The new regulations would make several other significant changes. They include:
¢ No glass drinkware, glass bottles or aluminum cans would be allowed in the sidewalk areas because of safety concerns.
¢ Future businesses wanting to apply for sidewalk dining areas - excluding the group of bars that already exist - would have to show that 55 percent of their sales come from food. Currently, the requirement is that they derive 70 percent of their sales from food. That would make the sidewalk dining regulations consistent with downtown's zoning requirements, which state no new business can serve alcohol unless they make 55 percent of their sales from food.
¢ Staff members from the city's Codes Enforcement Division would inspect all sidewalk dining areas once every three months to ensure they comply with city regulations.
¢ No sidewalk seating area would be allowed if it left less than five feet of unobstructed sidewalk space for pedestrians.
Commissioners meet at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday night at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.
Comments
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chargdup (anonymous) says…
"City commissioners at their meeting tonight ..."Doesn't the commission meet on Tuesdays? Something's wrong on a Monday night.
nobody1793 (anonymous) says…
"No glass drinkware, glass bottles or aluminum cans would be allowed in the sidewalk areas because of safety concerns"Grey Goose in a plastic cup = Classy.
faceit (anonymous) says…
The sidewalks already stink from the outside restaurant smokers
classclown (Class Clown) says…
Chargdup I believe the reason is that this story was written for tomorrow's print edition hence the references. For whatever reason the powers that be at LJW decided to post the story to their online version as it was probably going to print rather than waiting until tomorrow to post it.
igby (anonymous) says…
You can't even walk down the sidewalks now, not without having to navigate around these stupid out door seating pens for stupid people who will eat in a dusty pig pen. The winter makes them useless anyway. Street bums and kids on bikes and skate boards are disregarding the law and riding on the sidewalk unenforced. If the city will not enforce the basic laws on the sidewalk regarding bikes and skate boards, the liquor sales will be non-enforced as well.Take out the trees next, so we can walk on the sidewalk stupid CC's
hilary (anonymous) says…
Is it crazy to just make Mass St. an open walking area, like the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder? I realize we would need probably another parking garage (or for people to actually use the one we currently have), but there is definitely lack of walking space downtown. It's nice where they have installed the in-ground planters, but that job is yet to be completed.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…
I refuse to go into a Lawrence Bar simply because of the no smoking rule. If I want a cold one, I go to Baldwin. Outside seating would be helpful, but in the winter...brrr
seriouscat (anonymous) says…
Make it a pedestrian mall and encourage outside seating areas while strictly enforcing a no panhandling and no drunk in public ordinances. Do a better job of cleaning off the sidewalks. Include a bike lane, some bike racks, and more seating and more shade trees in the center of the pedestrian mall. Maybe move the farmers market to the center of the mall and extend activities which are now taking place off the mall at South Park down the mall to encourage people to window shop. This proposal would probably pit the retailers who are afraid that having to park 20 feet farther away will discourage their customers from shopping, against the bars and restaurants who will clearly benefit from such an arrangement. But if it was properly done, it wouldn't hurt and could very well help attract more sales in the long run.
thebigspoon (anonymous) says…
This is a great idea!Have each bar tear down their building. Move it back ten feet or so, then they will have room for sidewalk seating.Better yet. Make Mass street a walking mall.
emilyhadley (Emily Hadley) says…
"No glass drinkware, glass bottles or aluminum cans would be allowed in the sidewalk areas because of safety concerns."The only reason this has ever been an issue in my experience is because there isn't anywhere to sit or safely place your drink.So, I will still be able to have a glass of wine outside at Teller's at night, but I will have to order it in a plastic cup at the Red Lyon? A little odd, but I guess it's better than nothing.Still... no aluminum??
cheeseburger (anonymous) says…
Yet another attempt by a vocal minority to irritate and inconvenience the many for the benefit of a relative few. The negatives far outweigh the positives in this instance. Please commissioners, just say no!
Baille (anonymous) says…
Drumming along the 16th Street pedestrian mall in Denver:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWV84RDRiHw
Baille (anonymous) says…
And on Grafton Street, another pedestrian mall:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rLvzdezNxs
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
It'd be nice to have some good outdoor music. Anyone ever been to Bricktown in OKC? Yes, it's truly a manufactured waterway, but it attracts a lot of people. They have several outdoor seating areas (attached to bars), and they have singers and bands with some decent talent. All we get in Lawrence is an incredibly boring city band concert series in a park and wasted beggars attempting to play a guitar. Keep it classy, Lawrence!
not_holroyd (anonymous) says…
I think ole' Hawk needs a big hug from all of us today. He seems particularly snarly this morning. Maybe the Metamucil didn't quite kick in as normal this morning.Hugs to you Hawk. My friendly dog says hi to you too. Especially as we enjoy this new outdoor seating opportunity in this wonderful town.
Baille (anonymous) says…
People have been talking about making part of Mass into a pedestrian mall since I settled here a couple of decades back. But has anyone ever come up with a real plan? The infrastructure challenges and the potential negative impact on homes (permanent) and business (temporary) in the area would be huge. As would the cost.
Kasha (anonymous) says…
Oh, dear. More wringing of hands. More wishy washy procrastinations. More "well, we may have to have an open meeting on this issue." And then you do, and overwhelmingly those in attendance express preference for one action, only to have the Commission decide on the opposite action. IMO, Mike Amyx is the only intelligencia on this pathetic Commission.The City Commission reminds me of my 27 years as an Army wife. Twice, when asked in which Theater of Operations he wished to serve for his next assignment, my husband asked for Europe. We were ordered to the Far East. Then we caught on. The third time, he asked for the Far East, and we were ordered to Europe. Get the analogy?The City Commission seems to completely ignore what the public has to say. The same way they ignore the budget they have to run the City. What ever happened to that huge revenue collected after the NCAA parade in March?
Keith (anonymous) says…
Pedestrian mall: Never going to happen. Do you see the large number of trucks parked in the middle of Mass. St. daily, making deliveries to the businesses there? Most of them are too wide/tall/long to fit in the antique alleys, or what's left of the alleys.
Keith (anonymous) says…
"igby (Anonymous) says:You can't even walk down the sidewalks now, not without having to navigate around these stupid out door seating pens for stupid people who will eat in a dusty pig pen. The winter makes them useless anyway. Street bums and kids on bikes and skate boards are disregarding the law and riding on the sidewalk unenforced.If the city will not enforce the basic laws on the sidewalk regarding bikes and skate boards, the liquor sales will be non-enforced as well."Take out the trees next, so we can walk on the sidewalk stupid CC'sShorter igby: "Damn kids get off my lawn!"
Andini (anonymous) says…
How 'bout a Red Hook Ale?...Right Now!!!!!
Meatwad (anonymous) says…
Sidewalk seating is fine. What we need to get rid of is the HUGE number of street bums. I'm not talking about musicians, just the beggars. This problem is getting increasingly out of control.
woodenfleaeater (anonymous) says…
Sweet, now I won't have to go inside to use the restroom.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
Put an electric trolley in the middle of Mass from 6th to 11th and extend the sidewalks out to it. That'll give everyone plenty of room and the traffic lights at 6th can be simplified a bit.
horsegirl (anonymous) says…
I love outdoor seating, and I don't smoke... I pick restaurants just because they have outdoor seating. I think it is a great idea!
Puggy (anonymous) says…
Outdoor mall, definitely...like pearl street in boulder. Does anyone remember when the CC said that Lawrence has trouble drawing in out-of-towners? That Topuka and OP are above 1.0 in draw? And that the solution to that problem is to build another Walmart? Well, something like Pearl street would definitely draw...I'd even be in favor of opening up Mass St. to more chains if that were the case. Full on diversity of businesses...the little guy coexisting with the chains.CC could totally redeem themselves if they did that!
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
What? Even MORE binge drinkers at the curb?
not_holroyd (anonymous) says…
Hawk: "for "not_holroyd",,,metamucil didnt' keep me up or the lack thereof, it was the Viagra..that two hour stuff about it:..try ten hours.".........Being a single crotchity old man, I doubt that Paris Hilton is visiting the Hawk, and I suspicion the term "wanker" may be more appropriate here. Probably simultaneously as he watches the city commission on teevee make all those decisions he hates so much like wine in cups, glass or plastic.
George_Braziller (anonymous) says…
There are already parking problems with streets on the edge of downtown. One of them is that the downtown employees park on the residential streets ALL day -- EVERY day.-----------------------------------------Baille (Anonymous) says: The infrastructure challenges and the potential negative impact on homes (permanent) and business (temporary) in the area would be huge. As would the cost.
budwhysir (anonymous) says…
Just another way to give out wii tickets (walking while intoxicated)Come on people, I like to stand at the edge of my property line by the street and drink a beer, just to get attention
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
budwhysir: "Come on people, I like to stand at the edge of my property line by the street and drink a beer, just to get attention"So... do you do the whole crushed can on the forehead thang, as a finale?,;-)