Urbanna council approves limited outdoor seating and adjusted hours for Cross Street restaurant

The Urbanna Town Council on Sept. 11 approved revisions to a special-use permit for the restaurant at 161 Cross Street that will allow limited outdoor seating and change the approved hours of operation.

Town staff presented the proposal during a public hearing, identifying the property as 0.171 acres owned by Pickett Homes LLC and naming Sean Pickett as the applicant. Staff said the requested changes amend Condition 3 (hours) and Condition 5 (outside service) of Special Use Permit 2024-01 and stressed that the health-department occupancy limit of 20 remains in force.

Kirsten Lottendorf, general manager for the applicant, told the council she represents Sean Pickett, who was out of state, and described a modest plan for front seating and a possible rear garden area in the future. “As far as the front, basically, this is all you’re gonna see … it will only be these two seats,” Lottendorf said, adding that a back garden would be “a pipe dream” for 2025 because the operation lacks staffing.

Staff recommended allowing Sunday 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Monday noon–10 p.m.; and Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., noting those hours add roughly 50 hours of activity but do not change the 20-person occupancy limit set by the health department. The planning commission recommended language that would permit seating inside the building, on a front patio defined by a fence or rope, and on a rear patio only after plan review and approval by the planning commission within one year of the permit’s approval. The ordinance retains a prohibition on outdoor speaker systems and a requirement that no inside noise be audible outside the structure.

Neighbors and councilmembers raised concerns about enforcement, the presence of alcohol and whether the restaurant was being treated differently from other Virginia Street businesses. One resident who spoke during public comment, Carrie Robusto, called the establishment an asset to the town and urged approval.

After discussion about fencing, noise limits and a one-year planning-commission timeline for any rear patio, the council moved and seconded the ordinance amendment and approved it by unanimous voice vote.

The ordinance amendment preserves the 20-person occupancy limit and adds a process for review of any future rear-patio plan. The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the public hearing; the measure passed on a voice vote.