By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The lengthy fight for outdoor alcohol consumption continued its uphill battle Monday, though the Bucyrus Planning Commission looked favorably on the proposed guidelines.
The Planning Commission approved proposed amendments to the Bucyrus Codified Ordinance on outdoor retail displays and outdoor dining and alcohol sales in the downtown business district. The members present made some suggested changes, which will be presented to the Bucyrus City Council before final approval.
Outdoor dining and alcohol consumption would be considered a conditional use and proposed scale drawings detailing the placement of seating and tables would have to be submitted to the Bucyrus Board of Zoning Appeals for approval.
Under the guidelines, establishments would be allowed a seating area up to six feet from the exterior wall and the length of the property boundaries, though the area would not be allowed to extend beyond 95 feet in total length. A pedestrian zone of four feet would also need to be maintained.
Outside seating will only be permitted from April 1 through October 31 and liquor consumption will only be allowed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the outdoor dining season. No outdoor liquor sales will be permitted on Sundays.
Though the guidelines originally stated that fencing and furniture would need to be removed during any downtown event where Sandusky Avenue is closed, Natalie Norman of Norman’s Niche argued against such limitations. She pointed out that merchants such as herself would have to remove the fencing and furniture for short events like the Santa Parade and car shows under the proposed guidelines.
The board made a recommendation to change the limitation on time, which would allow merchants to keep their fence and furniture in the right-of-way for shorter events, but require them to move it if Sandusky Avenue is closed for more than 24 hours.
The board also struck out the requirement that the matter go through the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Platting Committee, and Bucyrus City Council.
“It seems burdensome to the applicant to have to go through so many steps,” Zoning Administrator John Rostash said. “There’s nothing else in the zoning code that’s elevated to such a level.”
Instead, a conditional use request for outdoor dining or alcohol consumption would only have to go through the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Though Mayor Jeff Reser and Councilman Bill O’Rourke cautioned any changes may delay the issues, Norman countered that the public may still not see outdoor alcohol sales this summer season.
“It’s not going to happen for any of us this year anyways,” Norman stated. “By the time this all gets approved, then you have the Bratwurst Festival, we have to have everything set up for the state liquor agents to come back in and look at it.”
Norman stressed the extra money and paperwork that any bar will have to put in before everything is approved by the state and the city.
“You’re down to one month of maybe outdoor seating,” Norman said. “It’s not going to happen this year for anyone so speed or no speed, at this point it’s over this year.”
Retail displays would be considered a permitted use and would be policed by the Bucyrus zoning officer. Under the proposed guidelines, a minimum of four feet of sidewalk will have to be maintained for pedestrians and merchants must carry proof of liability insurance while listing the city as an additional insurer. The retail sales would be required to take place during normal business hours and sale items cannot be left out overnight.
The guidelines also stipulated that any benches placed within the retail zone would have to be purchased through the city and permanent planters or floral displays would have to be approved by the city.
The Planning Commission will turn its recommendations over to the Bucyrus City Council for approval.
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