Cities make rules on outdoor dining as Illinois reopens from coronavirus shutdown
Metro-east cities are moving quickly to pass ordinances, issue permits and take other action to allow more restaurants and bars to temporarily expand outdoor dining, beginning Friday, as part of the state’s gradual reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown.
In most cases, that means setting up tables and tents on sidewalks and in parking lots. But Belleville also is poised to close short sections of three streets to accommodate downtown restaurants.
“We’re just trying to be fair to everyone, give them a chance to reopen and get some revenue,” Mayor Mark Eckert said. “It will be good for them. It will be good for the city.”
Belleville City Council’s Economic Development and Annexation Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to temporarily close a half block of North Church Street for use by Tavern on Main and The Wine Tap; a half block of South Jackson for use by Copper Fire and Bennie’s Pizza Pub; and a block of South High for use by Seven and Shichi Sushi Bar.
The full council is expected to approve the plan at a special meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday via conference call. Members also will vote on a simple and fast permit system for restaurants in other neighborhoods that want to put tables and tents in parking lots.
Restaurants would have to space out diners for social distancing and follow other state requirements to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to Eckert.
“We’re trying to remind all of our citizens to please try to do as much business here in Belleville as they possibly can,” he said. “The city depends on it because a lot of our income is sales tax. That’s how we pay our policemen, firemen and first responders and (fund services such as trash pickup). It’s not our only revenue, but it’s a big part of the equation.”
Fairview Heights goes door to door
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker closed restaurants to indoor dining on March 17, allowing only carryout, drive-thru, curbside pickup and delivery services. He later issued a stay-at-home order that shut down other “nonessential” businesses on March 21.
In early May, the governor unveiled a regional, five-phase Restore Illinois plan to restart the economy by gradually reopening businesses, including retail stores with capacity limits and other safety precautions. Last week, he agreed to loosen restrictions on restaurants and bars to allow outdoor seating during Phase 3, which is set to begin Friday.
The news was particularly important for Fairview Heights, a shopping and dining mecca that relies heavily on sales taxes and is one of the few cities in Illinois that doesn’t levy property taxes.
City officials created a “fast-track” permit system that temporarily allows restaurants to disregard some zoning rules and create or expand outdoor dining by using sidewalks and up to 50 percent of parking lots for seating. They also can erect tents.
“We’re doing an outreach to the restaurants,” said Paul Ellis, economic development director. “We didn’t think it was enough just to tell them, ‘You can have outside dining this weekend.’ We’re taking that extra step. We actually have packets that we’re hand-delivering to every restaurant.”
Fairview Heights has nearly 80 restaurants and bars, which serve people who shop at St. Clair Square and dozens of strip malls and freestanding stores.
The city launched an “All In” promotional campaign in December with a new website and shopping app that officials ended up using to inform the public which businesses were operating during the COVID-19 shutdown. Materials in the restaurant packets distributed this week were labeled “All In-Side Out” with resources and tips for sanitation, safety and social distancing.
O’Fallon also will close streets
O’Fallon Mayor Herb Roach has signed an executive order, allowing restaurants to get special permits to create or expand outdoor dining on sidewalks and in parking lots, according to a press release. The city also will close portions of downtown streets to make way for seating. That includes Second Street from Lincoln to Vine and Cherry Street from First to Second.
Collinsville determined it wasn’t feasible to close downtown streets because of their configuration and high volume, according to Assistant City Manager Derek Jackson. Main and Clay are one-way, and both connect to Illinois 159.
But the city’s 75 restaurants can get temporary permits to create or expand sidewalk dining or use up to 50 percent of private parking lots for seating. Officials promise a 24-hour turnaround on permit approvals.
“The city obviously wants to make sure that whatever is erected for barriers will be quality and aesthetically pleasing for the surrounding area,” Jackson said. “But we are offering different options. Straw bales and things like that could be utilized so there’s less burden and expense on the business. We’re trying to be flexible and allow for creativity.”
Edwardsville has issued a list of temporary outdoor seating regulations that allow restaurants to erect tents and place tables on sidewalks and in parking lots. The city isn’t closing any streets.
The Edwardsville area has more than 100 restaurants.
“We’re a foodie destination, and we were just getting ready to start that promotion when COVID-19 hit,” said Walt Williams, director of economic/community development. “So as soon as things return to the point that people are willing to get out and spend some money, we will have some banners and T-shirts to promote Edwardsville as a foodie destination.”
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 9:45 AM.
