New Canaan Selectmen Approve Fee, Guideline Changes For Outdoor Dining

NEW CANAAN, CT — The Board of Selectmen recently approved increased fees for setting up outdoor dining at restaurants in town, which previously cost a flat $300 fee.

During a Feb. 6 board meeting, Town Planner Sarah Carey proposed updates to the town's sidewalk cafe guidelines, which she noted had not been significantly updated since 2011.

The guidelines were adopted by the board in 2009, however the Planning and Zoning department manages, enforces and issues permits related to them, Carey said.

Fees for outdoor dining previously cost $300, regardless of the number of seats and tables a business sets up. The sliding scale approved by the board takes into account the number of seats a restaurant uses.

For restaurants with 1 to 15 outdoor seats, the permit fee cost will increase to $400. Restaurants with 15 to 30 will pay $800, while restaurants with over 30 outdoor seats will pay $1,600.

The proposed fees would go into effect March 1, according to the board's Feb. 6 meeting agenda. The town's outdoor dining season runs from April 1 to Oct. 31, according to Carey.

Selectman Stephen Karl asked if the proposed fee hikes had been communicated with restaurants in town effected by the changes. Carey said they had not yet, however Administrative Officer Tucker Murphy noted there had been ad hock discussions over the years about "the inequity of the amount of seating people have had and ways to resolve that."

Murphy also noted the town would get the word out to businesses through New Canaan Chamber of Commerce events and other methods, such as first selectman breakfasts or lunches.

First Selectman Dionna Carlson said the changes would likely instill better management of outdoor sidewalk seating by restaurants.

"If they don't think they're going to be able to do that business, then we don't have a just bunch of tables and chairs outside that are just being unutilized," Carlson said, "and people will start to be more thoughtful about what goes out on the sidewalk, which also may be a good thing."

Karl also noted it was "amazing" to drive by restaurants in town with outdoor seating on a nice day and see every single seat taken at lunchtime.

Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll clarified the fees would cover the entire outdoor dining season and not be paid monthly.

"It's kind of a bargain," Carroll said.

Carlson agreed it was a good deal for local restaurants and specifically compared it to fees in communities like Greenwich.

The changes were unanimously approved by the board.

"I just think this imposes fundamental fairness to all the restaurants," Carlson said.