GUIDELINES FOR SIDEWALK DINING AREAS (As proposed April, 1996)

The City of Lawrence wishes to establish “Guidelines for Sidewalk Dining Areas” in order to attain the following specific goals and purposes to:

1.       Ensure adequate space for pedestrians on the sidewalk or other public open space area           adjacent to “Sidewalk Dining Areas”;

2.       Promote “Sidewalk Dining Areas” as visual amenities which relate to and are        complementary to the surrounding area. Consideration shall be given to the character     of the area and its streetscape;

3        Where “Sidewalk Dining Areas” are located in the Downtown they shall preserve and      enhance the character of Lawrence’s Downtown; and

4.       Establish guidelines and conditions for the establishment of “Sidewalk Dining Areas” that are effective, efficient and enforceable.

General

1.       The sidewalk cafe area must be contiguous with any side of a building wherein a restaurant or food service establishment is located;

2.       No portion of a sidewalk dining area shall be used for any purpose other than dining and           circulation therein;

3.       The sidewalk dining area shall not occupy more than thirty (30) percent of the total area          of the primary restaurant operation. The sidewalk dining area shall be considered an     auxiliary use to the interior dining area;  

4.       A restaurant or food service establishment may be permitted to operate only one         sidewalk cafe and each sidewalk cafe shall be confined to a single location on the      sidewalk;

5.       The sidewalk dining area shall not extend past the restaurant or food service      establishment’s storefront; and

6.       A sidewalk dining area shall not utilize any public amenities such as benches, seats,        tables, or trash receptacles.

Usable Sidewalk Dining Area

1.       The proposed sidewalk dining area shall maintain a minimum six (6) feet width of          unobstructed sidewalk between the food service establishment dining area and all         obstructions, measured from the outer edge of the dining area to the curb side      obstacle. Consideration may be given to providing a minimum of five (5) feet on local        streets such as 7th, 8th, etc;

2.       The proposed sidewalk dining area shall be a minimum of five (5) feet from the street   corner areas as defined by building lines extended to the street, and no closer than ten    (10) feet from an alley;

3.       The sidewalk dining area shall be delineated by an approved railing that is clearly visible   to pedestrians. The railing shall take into consideration ADA requirements;

4.       Unless the main access to the restaurant or food service establishment is provided       through the sidewalk dining area, the sidewalk dining area should only be accessible     through the interior of the restaurant or food service establishment. Provisions should         be made to provide adequate fire safety egress.

Elevation and Other Design Considerations

1.       The sidewalk dining area shall be the same elevation as the adjoining sidewalk. Paint,     artificial turf, carpets, platforms, or any other surface cover or treatment of any kind are       prohibited from being placed upon the designated area at any time;

2.       In order to maintain maximum visual access, the height of the railing, shall not be         higher than thirty-six (36") inches;

3.       Railings shall be designed in a manner which makes them readily removable and shall     be removed form the sidewalk right-of-way area during those hours when the sidewalk        dining area is not in operation;

4.       Railings and barriers shall be constructed of wrought iron or similar material and should    reflect the character of the area;

5.       The sidewalk dining area shall be unenclosed and shall be open to the sky with the        exception that it may be covered with a retractable awning or fixed awning which is          compatible with the surrounding area; and

6.       Umbrellas are prohibited from sidewalk dining areas.

Operation of Sidewalk Dining Area

1.       Sidewalk dining areas shall be set-up, operated, and restored to their normal condition,   as a pedestrian way each day. Set-up may occur one (1) hour prior to the opening of     the restaurant or food service establishment. Take-down shall occur within one (1) hour   after the close of the restaurant or food service establishment;

2.       Food and beverages must be available for service to patrons in a sidewalk dining area    during the set hours of operation. Sidewalk cafes shall not operate when the restaurant or food service establishment kitchen is closed;

3.       Advertising shall not be permitted in the sidewalk dining area except for the name of the           establishment on chairs, or tables as approved by the City;

4.       All amenities including railings, barriers, chairs, tables shall be maintained in a good         condition;

5.       No blockage of building entrances or exits shall be permitted in the sidewalk dining area;

6.       The establishment operating the sidewalk dining area shall be responsible for trash         removal and must maintain the area and the surrounding five (5) feet in a clean and          litter-free manner during the hours of operation, and shall restore the area and    surrounding five feet to its normal condition as a pedestrian way and litter-free        operation at the end of each day; and

7.       Trash and refuse storage for the sidewalk dining area shall not be permitted with          in the sidewalk dining area or on adjacent sidewalk areas and the permitted shall removal all trash and litter as the accumulate.

Site Plan Submittal Requirements

1.       The site plan shall show the relationship to the interior dining and sidewalk dining areas;

2.       The site plan shall state the square footage of the interior dining and sidewalk dining      areas;

3.       The site plan shall state the occupancy of the interior dining and sidewalk dining   areas;

4.       The site plan shall show the composition of railings and barriers proposed for the           delineation of the sidewalk dining area. In addition, the railings and barriers shall be   constructed of wrought iron or similar material and shall detail the style, design, and          color of the proposed railings or barriers;

5        The site plan shall provide a detail of the attachment method;

6.       The site plan shall provide information regarding the type and style of awning (if applicable) and the type, design and materials of the proposed chairs and tables;     and

7.       The site plan shall contain such other conditions and restrictions on the use                  of the sidewalk.