The Plan Commission on Sept. 9 approved a temporary use permit allowing Melrose Restaurant and Harrah’s Coffee House to operate a temporary outdoor patio in a portion of the parking lot at 6840 South 20 Seventh Street from Sept. 10 through Dec. 31, 2025. The permit allows four heated plastic domes, each accommodating up to six people, placed on a temporary deck system with a three‑foot perimeter fence; operations were approved to run daily from 7 a.m. to midnight.

Conditions of the approval require compliance with all relevant municipal codes, that outdoor activities be confined to the approved mapped portion of the parking lot, that all building and electrical permits be obtained prior to operation, and that the site be restored after the temporary permit expires. The commission added a condition that traffic mitigation or other safety measures acceptable to staff be installed.

Safety was the central concern during the discussion. Commissioners and members of the public urged sturdier barriers than the proposed plastic traffic barriers to protect patrons from vehicles in the parking lot. Several commissioners and the applicant discussed possible options including leaseable concrete Jersey barriers, water‑fillable barriers, removable decorative bollards set in pockets, or other removable solutions that can be stored on‑site when the temporary patio is not in place. One commissioner noted the option of drawing pedestrian crossings with striping and signage between building exit doors and the outdoor seating area as a lower‑cost pedestrian safety measure.

Mohammed Jasar, representing the applicant, said heavier barriers such as concrete had been considered but that the site layout and the existing circulation made a high‑speed vehicular intrusion unlikely; he also said electrical work for the heated domes will be permitted and that the domes are secured and designed for the expected temporary period. The fire department reviewed the proposal and, per staff, did not raise objections during the department’s initial review; electrical permitting will follow the normal permit process.

Formal action: a commissioner moved to approve the temporary use permit with the conditions listed above and the additional requirement that traffic mitigation/safety measures acceptable to staff be installed. The motion passed.

Next steps: the applicant must obtain required electrical permits and any other permits identified by staff and the fire department before the patio may be used. The permit is temporary; if the business seeks to operate a similar setup beyond the permit period it must return for a new permit or pursue site and architectural review for a permanent change.