Any applicant seeking approval of an outdoor dining area shall provide the Town Planner or their designee with written assurance from the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District that:

 

(a) The kitchen facilities in the restaurant are adequate to service the entire restaurant, including the outdoor dining area. Cooking shall not be permitted outside the restaurant.

(b) Any outdoor service areas, including storage areas for both clean and dirty plates and utensils, condiments, drinking water and similar supplies, are appropriately protected.

(c) Refuse receptacles appropriate to the use shall be provided for patrons and/or wait staff.

No heaters may be installed or used without the prior approval of the Town Planner or their designee. If an applicant seeking approval of an outdoor dining area proposes to provide any source of heat for the benefit of patrons, it shall so state in its application and shall provide the Town Planner or their designee with a plan, approved by the Fire Marshal, for the placement and operation of said heaters as well as for the storage of fuel used by said heaters.

Public address systems or other systems intended to convey verbal messages through the use of amplified sound shall be prohibited. If an applicant seeking approval of an outdoor dining area proposes to provide any form of music for the benefit of patrons, other than live amplified music, which is prohibited, it shall so state in its application and shall provide a plan with specific details regarding the manner in which music is to be provided. All sound must comply with applicable sections of Chapter 123 of the West Hartford Code of Ordinances. The Town Planner may impose any restrictions upon the playing of music which are deemed appropriate given the location of the proposed outdoor dining area or any other relevant circumstances.

Maintenance.

A maintenance plan for the outdoor dining area shall be submitted to the Town Planner. The maintenance plan shall ensure that during the season when the outdoor dining area is in operation, it shall be kept clear of litter, food scraps or soiled dishes and utensils at all times. The entire floor/sidewalk surface in and around the outdoor dining area shall be swept as necessary, but not less frequently than daily, and cleaned to remove greases, oils and stains by steam cleaning or a similar process on a monthly basis. Spilled materials shall be cleaned promptly. Sweeping debris or spilled materials into the gutters of public streets shall be prohibited. This requirement shall also apply to any areas beyond the outdoor dining area which are traversed by restaurant staff and/or patrons.

Where outdoor dining areas abut the public right-of-way, all furniture, fencing, shrubbery and other fixtures associated with outdoor dining areas shall be removed and stored indoors during months when the outdoor dining area is not in use. No permanent structures shall be permitted to remain between the building that houses the restaurant and the abutting street except retractable awnings located at least seven feet above the ground. In all other locations, a storage plan for all furniture, fencing, shrubbery and other fixtures associated with the outdoor dining area shall be submitted for review and approval by the Town Planner or their designee.