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East Troy board directs staff to codify sidewalk dining policy
Summary
Staff recommended expanding the village's sidewalk dining policy to cover restaurants without alcohol service and to clarify rules for merchandise display; trustees directed staff to draft ordinance language and return at the next board meeting so applicants (including a Main Street coffee shop) can proceed next season.
Danette told the board the sidewalk‑dining permit currently in practice was written primarily for restaurants that serve alcohol and does not fully cover non‑alcohol food service or temporary merchandise displays. She said that without a permit the village cannot review site plans to confirm public access is preserved.
Eileen said the village already has code language that prohibits obstructing the sidewalk and that codifying the sidewalk‑dining policy into ordinance language would reconcile the practice with code enforcement. Trustees discussed limiting initial changes to restaurants and taking a stepwise approach; they also noted practical concerns such as trash receptacles and keeping clear pedestrian access.
Trustees directed Danette and Eileen to draft proposed ordinance language and return it at the next board meeting so that applicants (including a Main Street business that had applied) could plan for next year. Danette said staff will prepare the draft ordinance and coordinate with planning staff.
What’s next: Staff will draft ordinance language clarifying sidewalk dining and return to the board at the next meeting for consideration.
