Fairfield Considers Expanding Outdoor Dining Areas

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield's Plan and Zoning Commission is considering amending the town's zoning regulations as it relates to outdoor dining, in an effort to continue helping restaurants and other food establishments that survived the coronavirus pandemic.

Though the urgent health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has eased a bit, restaurants are still navigating choppy waters from the economy's rough seas, according to Fairfield Economic Director Mark Barnhart.

"It goes without saying that the past few years have been challenging for many small businesses, especially restaurants," Barnhart told the commission during a hearing Tuesday night. "The Covid crisis may have ebbed, but many are still experiencing supply chain issues, staffing shortages," and other issues.

Barnhart and Planning Director Jim Wendt presented new outdoor dining recommendations to the commission for consideration, that fall under three categories:

• Eliminate the need for restaurants to house three-quarters of patrons within a building
• Expand a restaurant's allowed outdoor dining area from 150 square feet to 575 square feet, without the need to add parking
• Allow restaurants that took over parking spaces for outdoor dining to apply to the commission to keep using those spaces, provided there is enough parking available

The commission did not decide on the amendments Tuesday, but generally appeared to be amenable to the suggestions.

Additionally, in backup material provided in Barnhart and Wendt's request were letters from Police Chief Robert Kalamaras; Fire Chief Denis McCarthy; Health Director Sands Cleary; Chamber of Commerce President Beverly Balaz; and other officials who did not oppose the suggested changes.

Also, a petition with more than 1,400 signatures supporting the changes was also presented.

The commission would still review applications for outdoor dining, a point that resident and attorney Joel Green emphasized as needed.

Green was not necessarily opposing the suggested changes, but he cautioned the commission that there were still a host of unanswered questions surrounding the issue.

Among his concerns included the potential loss of downtown parking spaces; the lack of a definition of what constitutes a restaurant or food establishment; and potential creation of restaurants that do not have indoor dining (just a kitchen) but only offer outdoor dining.

"We all want to support our restaurants," Green told the commission. "But we need to do more of a thorough analysis of all aspects of this."