Staff clears patio furniture for Small City Tap House at 202 Columbus Ave; liquor fencing noted

City planning staff granted an administratively approved certificate of appropriateness on May 9, 2025, for outdoor patio furniture at 202 Columbus Ave, the Small City Tap House property in Sandusky’s downtown commercial historic district.

Staff said the patio placement is limited to the Columbus Avenue elevation, that the chosen furniture is modest and simple (likely metal or aluminum), and that the design will balance with the building’s historic facade. The property comprises two historic buildings and sits in the south-central portion of the district.

During the commission’s discussion, a meeting participant asked whether fencing would be required for the patio under Ohio liquor rules. The meeting transcript indicates that, under Ohio liquor law, establishments serving drinks in glassware as part of regular table service must have fencing for outdoor service; service in disposable containers does not require the same fencing, according to the exchange in the meeting. The applicant chose not to include fencing as part of the administratively approved patio.

Staff’s analysis concluded the proposed furniture and location are appropriate under the commission’s design guidelines. The certificate of appropriateness for the patio was granted administratively on May 9, 2025; no commission roll-call vote was recorded for this approval.

The commission’s docket included several other administratively approved storefront and patio projects; commissioners discussed the staff-level review process and said they would bring items to the commission for review if a proposal appeared outside established guidelines.