Yardley Borough Council considers loosening outdoor dining restrictions

YARDLEY Year round outdoor dining could soon be coming to restaurants in the borough, but only if they have permanent covered porches.

The council voted on Sept. 18 to advertise a modification to its outdoor dining ordinance that would allow establishments, like the Continental Tavern and the newly-opened Trattoria Rosa Bianca, with permanently covered dining areas, to serve year round.

The ordinance currently limits outdoor dining in the borough to between April 1 and Nov. 15.

Under the change, eating establishments would be allowed to serve year round if they have a porch that is a permanent structure and attached to a building.

However, restaurants with outdoor dining on the sidewalk would not be permitted to serve outdoors between Nov. 15 and April 1 due to winter weather conditions.

Councilman Mike Ruttle, who chairs the councils community development committee, said when he proposed the modification he was thinking about sitting on the porch of the Continental and watching the ice skaters at Lake Afton.

Thats going to be an attractive place for people who bring their kids, he continued. They can sit there and get a cup of hot chocolate, Irish coffee, mulled wine whatever it is.

Ruttle said people can sit there and enjoy a winter ice skating scene and be able to do it in a very comfortable and relaxed setting.

He said that businesses like to think that government is in their way. Why should the borough care whether an owner of a restaurant is serving on a covered porch between Nov. 15 and April 1?

It really doesnt matter, Ruttle said. If its on a sidewalk and we have to keep the pedestrian way open and free from ice and slush and all of the rest in the winter -- that makes sense. Thats a public safety issue. Continued...

Read the rest here:
Yardley Borough Council considers loosening outdoor dining restrictions