By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
To support West Haven restaurants and encourage outdoor dining amid the coronavirus pandemic, the City Council on March 29 approved a communication by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi to once again suspend the $50 permit fee for temporary outdoor dining.
In her letter of communication to the City Council, Rossi proposed waiving the permit fee for temporary outdoor dining until June 30. The council then decided to extend the proposal and suspend the fee until Nov. 1.
Rossi thanked council members for supporting and enhancing her outdoor dining proposal to boost business for ailing city restaurants.
“Our restaurants have had a rough year and continue to struggle,” Rossi said. “I want the city to help them in every way possible.”
Rossi worked on the outdoor dining initiative, similar to the one she proposed and the council approved for last spring and summer, with council Finance Committee Chairwoman Bridgette J. Hoskie, D-1.
West Haven has been at the forefront of promoting outdoor dining since August 2019, when the Planning and Zoning Commission adopted a regulation to guide “Outdoor Dining” at city restaurants.
To apply for a temporary outdoor dining permit, restaurant owners can call the Department of Planning and Development at 203-937-3580 or contact Assistant City Planner Catherine Conniff at conniff@westhaven-ct.gov. They can also download an application at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/DocumentCenter/View/2423/Temporary-Outdoor-Dining-or-Retail-Display-Permit-Application-PDF.
According to Conniff, the application process requires restaurant owners to submit an application form with a simple drawing of the temporary outdoor dining layout drawn to scale. The layout must show the outdoor dining location and the number of movable chairs and tables — up to four tables and 16 seats — planned for use. It also must show at least 5 feet of unobstructed and continuous sidewalk for pedestrians to walk around the area and the tables set up at least 6 feet apart for social distancing.
Conniff said that if a restaurant needs to use a public sidewalk, the owner must provide the city with a certificate of insurance for general liability in the amount not less than $2 million to comply with Section 139-12 of the West Haven Code. In addition, restaurants must comply with Section 20.10 of the West Haven Zoning Regulations, she said.