HomeMy WebLinkAbout070621-08.1 OFFENHARTZ, DOUGFrom:Doug Offenhartz
To:Kristine Meidberg; Jill Bergman; David Crompton
Cc:Carla Ahern; Jim Edlund; Jeff Sutherland
Subject:Public Hearing: Town Council Meeting -- July 6, 2021 -- Ordinance for Time Extension for Outdoor Seating --Agenda #8.1
Date:Friday, July 2, 2021 1:58:06 PM
Attachments:DrivingSouthHartzAvenue.pdf***CAUTION*** THIS EMAIL WAS NOT SENT FROM DANVILLE STAFFThis email originated from outside of the Town of Danville and was not sent from aTown Staff member! Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize thesender and know the content is safe.
July 2, 2021
RE: Public Hearing: Town Council Meeting -- July 6, 2021 Ordinance for Time Extension for Outdoor SeatingAgenda #8.1 Dear Madame Mayor and Member of the Town Council:
I am in favor of outdoor seating for restaurants. It can benefit all Danville businesses –restaurants and retail stores – by bringing more people downtown. Our weather is ideally well-suited to creating a welcoming environment. I do, however, have two concerns with your voteto extend the outdoor seating through January 3, 2022.
First, most of the temporary installations are unattractive. We all understand that they were putup in haste and on a budget to address an economic emergency caused by the Covid-19pandemic. I know the Town intends to establish design criteria, but I believe some interimmeasures should be taken to address their appearance.
Second, the outdoor seating at Mangia Mi restaurant blocks the visibility of the three retailstores to the south. I have attached a pdf video taken from my car driving south from HartzAvenue and Prospect Avenue. While the restaurant owner has now allowed my tenants thefreedom to raise his tent panels when the seating area is not in use, it is a weak temporarysolution at best. The burden should not fall on the adjoining businesses.
I would like to encourage the Town Council to take two actions:
First, require restaurant owners to roll up the side panels when the outdoor seating is not inactive use and direct staff to work with restaurant owners to improve the temporaryappearance of their outdoor seating areas.
Second, commit to complete the design and parking requirements for permanent outdoorseating by the end of 2021. Another temporary extension will only continue the unattractiveappearance and burden on neighboring businesses.
I look forward to the Town establishing an outdoor seating solution that would enhance allbusinesses and the attractiveness of Downtown Danville.
Sincerely,
Doug Offenhartz