St. Charles outdoor dining program to continue this year

The outdoor dining program that St. Charles officials created last year as a way to help restaurants having to comply with the state’s COVID-19 mitigation plan will continue in 2021.

At the St. Charles Planning and Development Committee meeting on Jan. 11, aldermen recommended extending the temporary outdoor dining program for private and public property through this year.

Like last year, portions of First Street and Walnut Avenue will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic to accommodate outdoor dining. Aldermen unanimously recommended approval of the temporary outdoor dining program for private property with the stipulation that restaurants be prohibited from playing amplified music unless they apply for a special permit to do so.

“There recently have been some noise complaints reported to the police department associated with the temporary outdoor dining space that’s adjacent to a residential area,” St. Charles economic development planner Ciara Miller told aldermen. “If the committee is interested in amending the program guidelines as they relate to amplified sound, this would be a good opportunity to do that.”

As Miller told aldermen, when the program guidelines were originally approved for outdoor dining last May, amplified sound was prohibited. In June, the guidelines were modified to permit music as long as it didn’t disturb nearby properties.

“Essentially anything that’s using any kind of loudspeaker, whether it be live or recorded music, would be prohibited on private property,” said Rita Tungare, the city’s director of community and economic development.

Fourth Ward Alderman David Pietryla recommended the city return to a prohibition on amplified music.

“Acoustic music yes, amplified, no,” he said.

Fourth Ward Alderman Lora Vitek said she could see the city allowing amplified music for a special event. In that case, the business would have to apply for a special permit to have amplified music.

“In general, what we are finding is that the amplified music is just too loud without really any sort of buffer,” Vitek said.

Fifth Ward Alderman Maureen Lewis agreed with their concerns.

“There are other locations around town that are close to neighborhoods that might want to have music outdoors, such as on Prairie Street,” she said. “There’s a few bars and restaurants there that are backed up right to neighborhoods. I think it’s a good thing to have in place so that the residents have some protection and the businesses have a little leeway. It’s a good compromise.”

Aldermen also recommended that restaurants on First Street Plaza coordinate when they are playing amplified music to prevent the businesses from interfering with each other. In addition, for those restaurants required to fence in the area where alcohol is served, aldermen recommended the fencing be between 36 inches and 48 inches high, be dark in color (preferably black) and be made of metal or a similar material.

Also, any table umbrellas or similar features used for outdoor dining will have to be maintained and kept in good repair.