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Planning board delays outdoor dining platform at 168 West Maple over ADA and missing materials
Summary
The Birmingham Planning Board postponed consideration of a proposal for an outdoor dining platform at 168 West Maple to its June 11 meeting after staff said the plan would displace a marked ADA parking space and the applicant failed to provide required materials and design details.
The Birmingham Planning Board on May 14 postponed review of a proposed outdoor dining platform at 168 West Maple after staff told the board the proposal would displace a marked ADA on-street parking space and that required final materials and construction details were not in the packet.
Planning staff described the application as a modest platform occupying one on-street space with four tables and eight chairs, built of Trex decking and set flush with the curb as required by the zoning ordinance. Staff said the applicant must submit material specification sheets, scaled side elevations showing deck railing heights and specifications for any overhead weather protection, heating elements and trash receptacles before a final approval could be recommended. Staff also said the city would require the applicant to reimburse the city for the cost of relocating the existing ADA parking space — including signage, meter and any curb ramp work — if an adjacent space is found eligible and meets ADA grade requirements.
Board members voiced multiple concerns. Several members said the packet lacked essential details and that they would not support approval without the missing information. Members raised safety and traffic questions for the narrow commercial block, noting the proposed platform would leave only a single parking space between neighboring decks in one configuration. Staff said the city’s traffic consultant had told them outdoor dining placed in parking spaces does not affect traffic flow; the police chief reported only one prior crash involving a dining platform, and that most local crashes were related to doors opening.
No members of the public spoke on the item. A motion to postpone consideration to the planning board’s first June meeting (June 11, 2025) was made, seconded and passed by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will ask the applicant to supply the missing material samples and scaled drawings, coordinate with engineering on ADA eligibility for the adjacent space and confirm stormwater/runoff details before the board takes the item up again on June 11.
