Plymouth Commission Saves Outdoor Dining With New Ordinance

PLYMOUTH, MI — The Plymouth City Commission passed a new five-year ordinance Monday night to allow outdoor and patio dining at a much cheaper rate than originally proposed back in July.

Original plans in July would have raised public usage fees by 900 percent and forced many existing patios to downsize. Those plans upset the community and many restaurant owners said they would not open their patios next year under those conditions.

After listening to the community and restaurant owners' concerns, the Commission rejected the proposal in August.

Now, restaurants will now pay $2.50 per square compared to the proposed rate of $15 per square. The fee for the last ten years was $1.50 per square foot. The annual application fee, however, will double from $250 to $500.

Setbacks will remain six feet in most of the community and seven feet on Main St. with wider sidewalks. The original proposal had some setbacks, going to nine feet, which would shrink several dining areas.

Three restaurants on Main Street will move their patios that were touching their building to seven feet out to allow more sidewalk space for pedestrians. Restaurants will also be adding more greenery to the City with flower boxes on the rails of patios.

"This policy will allow us to offer a high-quality patio dining experience vital to continue the vibrancy of Downtown Plymouth and the quality of life that benefits our entire community," Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce President Wes Graff said.

Commissioner Kelly O'Donnell summarized the proposal during the meeting as "The best version of compromise we can reach at this time."

All outdoor patios must be removed and stored each November, and can now be reassembled one month earlier in March to pass inspection for April 1 grand openings.

"The City Staff is owed huge applause for their work in creating the framework for the policy and the countless hours spent communicating with various parties," Mayor Nick Moroz said. "This policy encourages more outdoor dining, balances public property utilization for pedestrians and patrons, and offers all stakeholders certainty, all to the standards that the city of Plymouth expects."