Sidewalk Cooking Ordinance
Last week, Councilman Bill Peduto introduced legislation that will allow restaurants, grocery stores, cafés, or delis to cook outside on the sidewalk. This will allow businesses in Bloomfield like Donatelli’s to continue a tradition of outdoor cooking, and hopefully encourage more businesses to come out as well.
416.15 (a): Definition
As used herein includes any restaurant, grocery store, café, or deli that wishes to use the public sidewalk for the purposes of outdoor cooking and other related foodservice. Outdoor cooking includes, but is not limited to outdoor grilling. Related foodservice includes selling, sampling, and displaying of food cooked / prepared outside of the business premises.
Tables & chairs require a separate sidewalk café permit.
The bill comes up for a preliminary vote tomorrow, and we would like Bloomfield business owners to come support the bill in Council Chambers, located on the Fifth Floor of the City-County Building at 414 Grant Street. The Standing Committees Meeting begins at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
To read the full ordinance, download the document or view File # 2010-0768 at the City’s Legislative Information Center.
The area that a vendor uses on the sidewalk should be restricted. With a little creative design instead of using a ready made tent the vendor can better utilize the space. The cook at Donatellis has more wasted space and steps to the grill and counter than is necessary. The unneccessary size of the operation forces folks onto the street because there is less than 3 ft of sidewalk left. I am all for sidewalk vending but some restrictions on size are needed.
Did you read the ordinance? Section 416.15 (h) states “1) No merchant shall use the sidewalk to the extent that there is not a free and clear passage less than five (5) feet wide.”
UPDATE: The Sidewalk Cooking Ordinance received preliminary approval yesterday. It is up for final action on Monday.