The Appearance Commission is set to present an updated list of design standards for outdoor seating to City Council this Tuesday, following a November update of the ordinance.
The November 2015 decision to update and refine the ordinance followed a controversial approval in August of an ordinance that limited the sidewalk hours of restaurants and bars following complaints from residents of downtown Raleigh.
From “Drunktown” – a full page protest ad in the News & Observer
The controversy over the loud and raucous atmosphere downtown’s bars and restaurants were said to be creating happened to coincide with a planned update to the City’s Private Use of Public Space requirements. As it happened, many of the bars against which complaints had been issued offered sidewalk seating to their patrons.
Businesses utilizing the sidewalk as a serving area fell under the City’s requirements for the private use of a public space. Following the trial ordinance adopted in August, a full update of the City code as it related to sidewalk dining was approved.
Curious to see how strictly the new ordinance was being enforced, we requested from the City a list of citations issued for its violation from September 2015 through the end of March. A full list is below. The only business to receive more than one citation was Williams & Company, which means a total of 11 businesses were affected by this crackdown over a six-month period.
- September 9, 2015: Brewmasters, 301 W. Martin Street: Operating an outdoor seating area without a permit issued by the City of Raleigh. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
- September 9, 2015: Troy Mezze Lounge:, 317 Blake Street: Operating an outdoor seating area without a permit issued by the City of Raleigh. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
- September 9, 2015: Manhattan Cafe: 320 South Wilmington Street: Operating an outdoor seating area without a permit issued by the City of Raleigh. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
- September 9, 2015: Capital Club 16: 16 W. Martin Street: Operating an outdoor seating area without a permit issued by the City of Raleigh. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
Cafe de los Muertos
- September 10, 2015: Cafe de los Muertos: 300 W. Hargett Street: Operating an outdoor seating area without a permit issued by the City of Raleigh. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
- September 10, 2015: William & Company: 616 N. Person Street: Operating an outdoor seating area without a permit issued by the City of Raleigh. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
- September 11, 2015: Irregardless Cafe: 901 W. Morgan Street: Operating an outdoor seating area without a permit issued by the City of Raleigh. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
- September 15, 2015: William & Company: 616 N. Person Street: Operating an outdoor seating area later than 1 a.m. on Friday or Saturday or 12:00 a.m. any other night. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
- October 25, 2015: Tasty 8s: 121 Fayetteville Street: Operating an outdoor seating area later than 1 a.m. on Friday or Saturday or 12:00 a.m. any other night. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
James Borden / Raleigh Public Record
Tasty 8s
- March 12, 2016: Level Up Kitchen & Barcadium: 126 South Salisbury Street: Operating an outdoor seating area without a permit issued by the City of Raleigh. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
- March 18, 2016: Mecca Restaurant: 13 E. Martin Street: Operating an outdoor seating area later than 2 a.m. on Friday or Saturday or 12:00 a.m. any other night. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
- March 29, 2016: Oak City Meatball Shoppe: 180 E. Davie Street: Operating an outdoor seating area without a permit issued by the City of Raleigh. Civil penalty: $100. Administrative Fee: $100
James Borden / Raleigh Public Record
Mecca Restaurant’s bright sign lights up the Raleigh night
