Town officials say that restaurants taking advantage of outdoor dining this year will not be able to expand into on-street parking spaces.
Temporary outdoor dining barriers outside of Chef Luis on Elm Street, on May 1, 2023. Credit: Michael Dinan
Launched amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the outdoor dining season has seen restaurants not only set up additional tables on the sidewalks out front but also—where the sidewalks haven’t already been widened as part of the town’s “bumpout” initiative—take over entire parking spaces in Elm Street, cordoning off the additional tables and chairs with large, heavy barriers to protect diners from motor vehicle traffic.
For the outdoor dining season that begins May 1 this year, “[a]ll outdoor seating must stay on public sidewalks,” according to a letter that Town Planner Sarah Carey sent Tuesday to local businesses.
“I understand at first glance this may feel like a significant operational change,” the letter said. “However, please note that restaurants are permitted to have seating in front of a directly adjacent storefront, if written permission is submitted by the property owner, which can supplement some of the lost street seating.”
It continues: “Additionally, please be aware that no barriers are provided by the Town to mark the edge of the curb. Restaurants will have to provide their own fencing/barrier if it is desired to clearly mark the edge of the sidewalk.”
The change will return several parking spaces to Elm Street where restaurants such as Rosie and Chef Luis, which do not have widened sidewalks out front, set up tables in past summers.
Asked about the reasons for the change, Carey noted that the street barrier started as a way to assist restaurants during the COVID-19, where social distancing and the health advantages of being outside were top of mind.
“Over the last five years the town has periodically revisited the continuation of this emergency provision,” Carey told NewCanaanite.com. “Given that the sidewalk bump-outs were finished last year while balancing the needs of retail shops and downtown shoppers, the town determined this year was the appropriate time to stop providing street barriers. Outdoor dining on sidewalks begins on May 1.”
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More parking spaces and no more unsightly barriers. Glad that the town has come to their senses on this.
I count down to when outdoor dining starts every year. It is just such a great ammenity for the retailers/restaurants/residents. It’s festive and creates great energy that lasts into the evening in town…. beautiful hanging baskets from the light poles and beautiful sunsets seen from Elm St outside while dining. I love the colorful umbrella’s and festivity of it all.
The summer months can be tough in town for retail/rest when there is a mass exodus of residents to 2nd homes/summer camps etc.
Do we really need those few extra spaces on Elm that have been previously used for dining by the restaurants ?
As we have been told by the town, since the new parking regs – there is plenty of accessible parking in all the alternate lots esp right behind Elm with easy access to Elm in the rear of the theater.
Maybe the town can take another look at this – expanded outdoor dining IMO is a win win for the residents, merchants, restaurants and town.
Hi Mike,
We stand with Rosi and with every other local business affected by this. This situation is simply not fair.
We’ve already struggled through a difficult winter season, and now—just as we’ve been waiting all year for patio season—this happens. It’s extremely frustrating for all of us who work so hard to keep our businesses going.
And it’s hard not to question whether this decision is connected to the new paid street parking on Elm Street.
Let’s also not forget the constant rising costs we face every year—rent, taxes, and operating expenses that continue to increase. Small businesses are already under enormous pressure.
Lombardi’s Ristorante & Bar
Let me begin by stating unequivocally that I am in favor of outdoor dining.
With the greatest respect to the restaurant owners on Elm St and their experiences, the retail sector has been greatly affected by the loss of parking on Elm St. during the peek summer season
With roughly 77 parking spaces on Elm these barriers took about 9-10 total spaces, this amounts to 15% of convenient parking for our customers, and we all know people want convenience.
I appreciate the town taking the retail sector into account with this decision, and I know my fellow stores owners so as well.
Lastly, we are not leaving the restaurants with no outdoor dining.
This is a fair and equitable solution for the restaurants, diners, storekeepers and shoppers.
Happy outdoor dining!!
I think the more outdoor dining space, the better for retail merchants. When I have out of town guests or clients, they love dining outside and inevitably end up visiting the shops in town and making purchases ! I see it as a win/win!
NC Town Leadership has been telling us how valuable the prime parking spaces on Elm Street are as justification for charging for them. It would be a clear contradiction to now give those same premium spaces away for nearly five months to restaurants. A fair compromise is to continue allowing outdoor tables on the sidewalks, but not in the street, where the town has already argued the spaces carry significant value.
Outdoor dining is another wonderful aspect of New Canaan spring/summer/fall season. Maybe its a relic of covid, but its a great one. Yes, some restaurants have access to sidewalks, but others do not, like Rosie’s and Chef Luis. The bump outs didn’t help everyone equally. I vote for keeping all outdoor dining as we have enjoyed for the last few years.