'Foolish': Burr Ridge Skeptical Of Outdoor Dining Plan
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BURR RIDGE, IL – A proposal for year-round outdoor dining in Burr Ridge met with skepticism this week.
One village trustee called the proposal “foolish.” Another said the suggested enclosures wouldn’t give the village a good look.
They were talking about a recommendation from the Plan Commission that would allow year-round outdoor dining enclosures.
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Under the plan, the village would require enclosures to be made of high-quality materials such as aluminum or glass. Vinyl, fabric and canvas would be prohibited.
The proposal would mandate demountable walls.
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Over the winter, Jonny Cab’s and Capri Express, both at County Line Square, requested the village allow them to set up enclosures for year-round outdoor dining.
At this week’s Village Board meeting, Trustee Joe Snyder said the requirements would make restaurant owners spend more money, adding to their stress.
The proposal would require the owners to take down the enclosures in the summer, even though rainstorms and other bad weather can occur, he said.
“How foolish to me,” Snyder said.
Trustee Anita Mital also questioned the expense.
“We’re here to support our restaurants,” Mital said. “They’re doing a good job. We want them to survive and flourish, and to add on this requirement to spend a lot of money to conform to the rules doesn’t make sense to me. We’re basically eating into their bottom line, and it doesn’t serve a purpose.”
Others said they did not like the look of outdoor enclosures.
“It’s just going to be a mall of outdoor fixtures,” Trustee Tony Schiappa said. “It just doesn’t give us a good look.”
Trustee Guy Franzese noted he was no fan of outdoor dining enclosures. He said his question was about public safety.
“If they’re going up for seven months of the year, when do they become permanent structures? When are fire suppression systems required? When are sprinkler systems required?” he said. “I don’t have an answer for that.”
Trustee Russell Smith said that before aluminum and glass enclosures are put up, they should go to the Plan Commission for the normal review of new buildings.
“When I think of outdoor dining, I think of a temporary setting. It’s attractive to me. It works,” he said.
Mayor Gary Grasso suggested the board table the issue, so trustees could learn more about it.
The trustees unanimously voted for that recommendation.
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