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Wicks Park Bar & Grille seeks pavers on Mary Street for outdoor dining; council reviews standards
Summary
Christine Murphy of Wicks Park Bar & Grille asked the Saugatuck City Council to permit pavers between the sidewalk and curb on Mary Street for picnic-table outdoor dining. Staff noted the zoning code requires a solid surface and outlined criteria the council will use to evaluate permit applications.
Christine Murphy, owner of Wicks Park Bar & Grille (WPBG, LLC), requested City Council review of a second application to install hardscaping — specifically pavers — between the sidewalk and curb along Mary Street so picnic tables can be placed for outdoor dining.
The request was presented at the July 17, 2024 workshop. Staff explained the city's zoning ordinance requires outdoor dining areas in the public right-of-way to be placed on a solid surface. According to the packet materials and staff remarks, the solid surface requirement serves two primary functions: it expands the accessible sidewalk area to offset seating placed in the right-of-way and it provides a stable, level surface so tables and chairs do not sink into underlying soil.
Staff materials and the Planning Commission's conditional approval of seating along Mary Street identify the criteria Council will use to evaluate a permit application. Those criteria include the proposed installation cost; the potential risk of harm including encroachment on the roadway or hazards to pedestrians and motorists; the ease and cost of removing the installation; aesthetic fit with surrounding areas; whether the installation pre-existed the ordinance; the proposed size and height; the materials used (for example, plant matter, wood, brick, mulch, or plaster); and recommendations from city departments, including the City Engineer and the Department of Public Works. City staff reported the City Engineer and the DPW Superintendent had reviewed the application and provided technical suggestions.
No formal vote or permit determination was recorded at the workshop. Councilmembers discussed the application as part of the packet review; the item will remain under administrative and Planning Commission process for permit evaluation and any required approvals.
The workshop record does not specify funding or maintenance responsibilities for the proposed hardscaping, nor does it record a timetable for a final decision. The council did not take formal action on the permit request during the July 17 workshop.
