It appears Casa Real’s plans to build an outdoor caf? are not going to happen this summer as the village council wishes to address its ordinance governing outside eateries.
‘Perhaps we could draft an ordinance with the whole village in mind, not one user,? said Councilman Chris Bishop.
Council last week voted unanimously to set aside a proposal to reduce the required distance between outdoor caf’s and vehicular driving areas until the entire ordinance can be addressed.
A few weeks ago, Casa Real owner Alberto Pimentel approached the village about constructing an outdoor caf? behind his 21 S. Washington Street establishment within the village sidewalk area.
At that time, the proposed caf? extended all the way to the brick pavers, which separate the sidewalk from downtown’s southwest parking lot.
Upon reviewing a section of the zoning ordinance, Manager Joe Young reported that outdoor eating areas can be located no closer than 15 feet from any street right-of-way or any vehicular parking or maneuvering areas.
The area between the Mexican restaurant and the municipal parking lot has a total width of 20 feet, leaving only five feet for an outdoor eating area under the existing ordinance.
It was recommended by Young that council amend the ordinance to provide for a five-foot walkway between outdoor cafes and vehicular driving areas.
But council wasn’t comfortable with that idea.
‘This sounds like we’re amending an ordinance for a particular individual, and I’m just not in favor of ever doing that,? Bishop said.
Instead of simply fixing the outdoor eating ordinance ‘to fit their needs,? Bishop proposed developing one the village feels is ‘appropriate for our town.?
Village President George Del Vigna agreed.
‘I think any ordinance that’s being redone should be looked at for the village as a whole and not one section,? he said.
Councilman Tom Benner made it clear he wishes to see outdoor caf’s stay on private property only.
‘I am not in favor of putting this on village property,? he said. ‘I think it needs to be on private property, not on taxpayer property.?
Bishop wished to wait and see how the new ordinance would address the private versus public property issue before formulating his opinion.
‘I’m neither for nor against outdoor eateries on public property one way or the other,? he said.
Officials wish to garner input from the Downtown Development Authority and village planning commission in developing this ordinance.
A special Aug. 8 workshop to address the outdoor caf? issue has been scheduled by the planning commission.