It took two meetings and an hour-plus of deliberation from the planners, but Bareburger has finally received approval for an enclosed customer waiting area on the north-side terrace of the building.
“Temporary plastic sheeting may be used on the open outside walls of the area during the cold seasons of the years — Nov. 1 through March 31 — to provide shelter from inclement weather to use as a customer waiting area only,” reads the commission’s revision to the site plan approval. “The temporary plastic sheeting on the outside walls shall be not drawn down to enclose the space from April 1st through Oct. 31.”
When the sheets are down and the space is strictly a waiting room, there will be no tables or food service, according to the regulation.
“Customers may carry drinks into the waiting area, provided the drinks are served at the bar within the restaurant,” the condition states. “Seating for waiting customers may be provided.”
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the revision March 4.
Owner Chris Sturges watched as the commission weighed issues such as parking at the restaurant and permanent enclosure versus temporary enclosure.
“The way I see it, we have two separate issues going on in front of us — accommodating waiting customers in the cold winter months and regulating the parking when outdoor dining is allowed in the warm summer months,” said commissioner Joe Fossi. “It’s a bit of a gray area for us, so I think we should get through a season of it this way and see how it goes.
“We may have to address it again,” he added. “If you don’t police it yourself, we will police it and regulate it.”
At a previous meeting, on Feb. 18, parking was the main topic as the commission was cautious about upsetting Bareburger’s neighbors — a dentist’s office and Walgreens, who were represented by a lawyer when the original site plan was reviewed in June.
“Offering outdoor dining is troubling because it compromises the parking by increasing the number of patrons sitting in the restaurant,” said commissioner Phil Mische in February.
Robert Jewell, the applicant’s attorney, reminded the commission that it was his client’s intent to offer permanent outdoor seating once the weather improved, and that parking wasn’t the issued being raised.
“We’re looking to keep people out of the parking lot and keep them warm while they wait to be seated,” he said.
Commissioner George Hanlon, predicting what would ultimately be approved, said the issue was a simple one: “When the canvas is up, you serve; when the canvas is down, you can’t serve.
“Let’s take care of the first issue, which is taking care of the waiting customer.”
Nonetheless, the debate waged on.
Commissioner Timothy Dunphy suggested changing the “vague language” of the proposal to include specific dates Tuesday night.
The recommendation was approved by the entire commission and the condition was amended.
“If you’re going to serve meals outside, the plastic can’t be down,” Mr. Fossi added. “The minute you enclose it, it’s not outdoor dining and that’s when it gets complicated for us to regulate it.”
The town currently doesn’t have any outdoor dining regulations.
Mr. Sturges said the amended revision would help him establish guest expectations for when outdoor seating is available and when the terrace room would be used only as a waiting area.