Newport is considering an amendment to its outdoor dining ordinance to allow bars and restaurants in residential areas to have outdoor dining.
Newport City Manager Tom Fromme said what started the conversation was an argument made by those in favor who feel that it puts establishments at a competitive disadvantage if not allowed. The amendment for outdoor seating is only for businesses that serve food and beverages.
Multiple Newport commissioners commented that this amendment had been rewritten numerous times, including Ken Rechtin, who said this new version takes care of the fairness issue that Fromme mentioned.
“I think you guys have come up with something here that I think really fits the bill,” Rechtin said. “It’s all-inclusive. It’s a fairness issue, and that was taken care of, and that was voiced very loudly to me after the first reading, so I’m pleased with what’s taking place.”
Fromme said the city would send surveys to neighbors of the bars and restaurants in residential areas within a 75-foot radius to get their input on the matter.
All the bars and restaurants that apply for an outdoor seating permit, Fromme said, will also be subject to an annual review.
“For a particularly bars—anyone who serves alcohol, we keep a log weekly of how many runs of police calls we’ve had to any establishment,” Fromme said. “Then Mr. (John) Hayden (assistant city manager) meets with staff, on at least a weekly basis, about those runs, and we keep a tab on how many calls there are.”
The permit regulates outdoor hours of operation for no later than 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and no later than 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Still, hours can be extended (midnight at the latest) based on the public survey results of the residents within the 75-foot radius.
“We will strictly enforce this ordinance,” Fromme said.
Hayden said that staff would meet with business owners at the start of each season to prevent confusion on where tables and chairs should be placed on the sidewalks and rights-of-way.
“They go out and look at the site, talk about where things need to be, and then all of that’s mapped out with the business owners,” Hayden said.
The issuance or annual renewal of the permit is $100.
“After three years—I think that is what it actually is, this is one of these things that a lot of cities started doing during COVID-19, and we’ll see how it goes,” Newport Commissioner Mike Radwanski said.
This reading was the first of the ordinance amendment; therefore, a vote to implement the changes will occur at a future meeting.
