Saint Charles City committee approves First Street Plaza outdoor-dining layout, design standard changes and recommends fee package

The Planning and Development Committee on March 10 recommended approval of a three-part package for outdoor dining at the First Street Plaza in Saint Charles City: the 2025 layout plan, amendments to design standards for outdoor cafes, and a permit-fee recommendation that includes a $20-per-seat rate, a $2,000 security deposit and a $250 application fee.

City staff member Derek presented the package, saying the 2025 plan increases dedicated outdoor-dining area from about 8,000 square feet to just over 9,000 square feet and reallocates space among tenants. The plan would, for example, nearly double the square footage allocated to McNally’s (from roughly 52 seats to an estimated 84 seats) and increase Gia Mia’s area to about 1,200 square feet (about 60 seats). Derek said the plan also preserves a pedestrian opening through the plaza’s center barrier wall to increase pedestrian flow and create additional room for dining.

The committee was presented with proposed changes to Title 12 to regulate items observed during last year’s pilot: planters would be explicitly allowed but not used to dump restaurant contents into landscaping beds; sofas would be permitted but limited to 12 seats; smokeless or artificial fire pits would be allowed under the rules; and additional string or decorative lighting would be allowed so long as it is powered by private outlets rather than city power.

As part of the package, staff proposed a $2,000 refundable deposit per restaurant to cover possible repair costs to the plaza if damage occurs and the restaurant is not responsive. Derek said the city did not budget for a permanent ADA ramp this year and is relying on a temporary ramp that staff believes meets ADA standards; installing a permanent ramp was removed from the current budget. Committee members discussed safety, asking staff to research temporary bollards for the plaza opening and who would enforce lighting and other rules; staff said enforcement would likely fall to the presenting staff member and code enforcement officers.

Committee members raised financial and operational concerns. An emailed comment from Alta Brewing—shared with the committee—argued hospitality margins remain pressured by labor and inflation and warned that a $2,000 deposit could strain cash flow in the off season. Some committee members said they were comfortable keeping the per-seat fee at $20 for this season given last year’s plaza disruptions; others proposed $25 per seat and suggested that fee revenue be earmarked for plaza upkeep or downtown safety. Derek noted the staff analysis that a $20-per-seat fee, computed over the 200-day operating season, would generate roughly the same total amount as last year given the increase in seats.

Votes at the committee level approved (1) a resolution recommending the outdoor-cafe layout for First Street Plaza for summer 2025; (2) a recommendation to amend Title 12 (General Provisions, Section 12.04.102 — Outdoor Cafes and Food Carts in Public Places) to add the clarified standards; and (3) a recommendation on the fee package (the committee recorded a motion recommending $20 per seat, the $2,000 deposit and the $250 application fee). The committee called the roll and the motions passed.

The committee also discussed implementation details: who pays to remediate damage if it occurs, whether deposits could be paid in installments, whether deposits should be tiered for first-year applicants, and whether permit revenue should be placed in a dedicated fund for plaza maintenance, ADA improvements or downtown safety. Staff said the deposit must be submitted before outdoor dining may begin and that, per current discussion, returned funds would be available after Oct. 31 if no corrective action is needed.

Committee chair Lencioni closed the item after the recorded votes and the meeting moved to the TIF/RDA update and redevelopment-agreement item.

The package now proceeds to City Council (as recommended by the committee) where final ordinance language, deposit collection mechanics and any earmarking of funds would be set by council action or by finance staff recommendations.