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Snap Taco owner seeks feedback on outdoor dining design at 126 South of Woodward
Summary
At a March 11 Planning Board meeting, applicant Michael Lico presented a pre-application for an outdoor dining area for Snap Taco at 126 South of Woodward. Board members praised the concept but requested clearer drawings showing adjacent properties, planter and bollard anchoring, and pedestrian clearances before formal approval.
Michael Lico, co‑owner of Snap Taco, asked the Birmingham Planning Board on March 11 for guidance on a proposed outdoor dining area at 126 South of Woodward that is part of the restaurant’s bistro liquor‑license process. "We only have 32 seats inside," Lico said, explaining the business’s interest in adding outdoor seating. He described the current proposal as providing roughly 12 outdoor seats while preserving a clear pedestrian path.
Planning staff (Nick) told the board the patio design largely meets ordinance requirements but flagged the outdoor layout as a key item the city’s bistro screening had flagged. "Ordinance‑wise, it looks pretty good," Nick said, while noting the applicant will need property‑owner and tenant approvals for seating located in front of an adjacent storefront.
Board members welcomed the concept but pressed for more detail on safety and pedestrian flow. A committee member said the 7½‑foot sidewalk width is "excellent" but asked the applicant to show the layout in context north and south of the site so members could confirm how nearby raised planters and meters affect clear walking space. Another member cautioned about using movable ropes and stanchions, saying, "I've been very hesitant to approve ropes... they're movable, they're not rigid, kids will hang on them," and asked whether any posts would be fixed or otherwise secured.
Lico said the team has considered several options — including a platform in the street and a more permanent metal fencing — and that planters on casters are part of the current approach. He told the board the planters have wheels that lift and sit down but said the team can show a fixed‑post alternative in follow‑up materials. "We can put it fixed," he said, and asked what level of anchoring the board would prefer.
The board asked the applicant to return with refined drawings that: (1) show the patio in context with adjacent properties to the north and south, (2) show planter placement and attachment details, (3) clarify how bollards/ropes will be anchored or whether removable wood slats/brackets could be used, and (4) demonstrate that a five‑foot clear path for pedestrians will be maintained even during peak use. The applicant acknowledged those requests and said he would return in approximately two weeks with updated materials. He also noted the bistro and city commission steps are ongoing and that timing looks like early May for later approvals.
The board did not take a formal vote on the pre‑application; members requested the additional information before a formal site plan or special‑use review.
