New Guidelines Set For Main Street Development

When the Manayunk Neighborhood Council approved a late-night eatery on Main Street a few years back, they didn't think it was going to be a problem. But it became one quickly, Kevin Smith, president of the Manayunk Neighborhood Council said.

"What we've found is that after people drink they come out to get food between 1 and 3 a.m.," Smith said at an MDC meeting earlier this month. "They consume food, vomit and throw their trash all over the street."

"The food establishments that serve late-night food have become their own party scene," Smith said. "It just contributes to the party scene on Main Street."

To combat the on-going problem, the neighborhood council and the created guidelines for new businesses looking to locate to Main Street. The guidelines must be agreed upon by the MDC, MNC, the property owner and the business owner.

The guidelines were outlined in the council's December newsletter:

General conditions:

• No live music
• No DJ
• No cover charge
• Trash pickup a minimum of five days a week
• Trash must be kept inside the building until pickup time
• The drawing shown at the neighborhood council meeting can only be changed by written agreement of all four parties. One time changes of 5 percent or less will be approved automatically.
• No expansion without four-party approval
• Applicants must present their proposals to the MNC and the MDC's zoning committees and board of directors.

There are specific guidelines for resturants with and without liquor. Applicants without liquor are divided by size (more than 30 seats and less than 30 seats). A less than 30-seat restaurant without liquor must close at 12 a.m. while the other two categories may stay open until 1:30 a.m. but service must end at 1 a.m.

According to its newsletter, the four-party agreement has already been applied to two Manayunk businesses successfully.

"If things were to change on Main Street we would definitely re-think the guidelines," Smith said. "But this has been an ongoing enforcement issue that has not been addressed."