West Hartford Council OKs Blue Back Shade Structures For Outdoor Dining

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local leaders have approved new guidelines that will better allow for Blue Back Square restaurants to offer outdoor dining options.

The West Hartford Town Council recently voted 9-0 to approve new standards for "freestanding shade structures" in a special development district, which is where Blue Back is located on 65 Memorial Road.

Blue Back is a large shopping destination area in town that features multiple restaurants and, with the pandemic introducing folks to outdoor dining, many have grown to enjoy the option, even if the pandemic's impacts are less dire.

Because the town council has oversight of regulations in the special design district, it must vote on any revisions.

Blue Back Square's owners, Charter Realty & Development Corp., had sought the freestanding shade structure rules, citing its restaurants.

Such structures would provide shade for diners eating outside, which is a benefit for eateries when the weather allows.

"Blue Back Square has become a premier dining destination for West Hartford with tenants Rosa Mexicano recently opened and Boqueria scheduled to open soon," wrote Karen Johnson of Charter Realty to the council. "Outdoor dining is a key component of these new concept dining experiences."

John Ireland, who works for Carter Realty in the area of design and development, made a presentation to the council at a public hearing prior to the vote. No members of the public spoke at the hearing.

Ireland said such shaded structures would, simply, become part of a restaurant's offerings, similar to other eateries in other parts of town.

"The idea here is to extend the building out into these shade structures," Ireland said. "They would be entirely in Blue Back Square, inside the property line."

Prior to the council's approval Jan. 24, the revisions were already endorsed earlier this month by the West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission and the West Hartford Design Review Advisory Committee.

The rules govern various aspects of such structures and mandate: they be in line with the architecture of the establishment; the height cannot exceed the first-floor level; and graphics, signage, logos or lettering are not allowed on them, among other rules.

Ireland said the roof portions of the shaded structures would be temporary, such as canvass, and would come down when outdoor dining isn't possible.

Local officials offered words of support for the new rules, citing the importance of outdoor dining these days for any restaurant.

"This is something we have seen in the area of Blue Back Square, but had not been implemented in Blue Back Square and their guidelines," said West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor.

"There's so much focus on outdoor dining and I do think that these structures will assist and help the restaurants design a sense of space as well as provide shade when the sun decides to come back out again."

Councilman Mary Fay said Florida, for example, features such structures prominently at many Sunshine State restaurants.

"These structures adding shade to the environment are prevalent here and they absolutely add to the quality of life for the establishments as well as patrons, so I think it's great that we can implement this," Fay said.

For the minutes of the Jan. 24 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For more information on Blue Back Square, click on this link.

For more information on Charter Realty & Development, click on this link.