OUTDOOR DINING APPLICATION FOR RESTAURANTS IN THE CENTER OR BLUE BACK SQUARE
If considering either a new outdoor dining area or an expansion of an existing, previously approved outdoor dining area, please be advised of the following:
- The concrete sidewalks are generally made up of three distinct areas:
- The streetscape amenity zone, which is approximately a four (4) foot wide strip measured from the face of the curb in towards the buildings.
- The pedestrian zone, which is a minimum six (6) foot wide, and in some cases wider, strip adjacent to the streetscape amenity zone.
- The outdoor dining zone, which is the remaining space leftover once the amenity zone and pedestrian zone are taken in to consideration.
- If space allows after the amenity zone and pedestrian zone are taken into consideration, outdoor dining areas may extend into the public right-of-way (ROW). Doing so would not result in a visible separation, rather an invisible line will bisect the space.
- Once this Site Plan application is approved by the Planning and Zoning office, any outdoor dining area that does extend into the public ROW will require an annual renewal application to the Department of Public Works. Currently there is no fee associate with this annual renewal, but one may be imposed in the future.
- The total number of proposed seats between your interior restaurant space and outdoor dining area must not exceed the number declared on your Food Service License application with the West Hartford/Bloomfield Health District. If your expanded seat count goes beyond your current Food Service License, then you may need to adjust your license with the WHBHD. This should be addressed prior to site plan submittal. If you would like to discuss your current seating allowance, please contact Chris Hansen, Assistant Director of the West Hartford Bloomfield Health District at Christopher.Hansen@WestHartfordCT.gov or by phone at (860) 561-7900.
OUTDOOR DINING SITE PLAN APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS:
Required documents:
- Application form and fees (see link above to a fillable PDF form)
- A comprehensive operational narrative for use of the outdoor dining area. Please refer to the “Outdoor Dining Narrative Requirements” document found HERE. Ensure that your narrative touches on each required element.
- A comprehensive plan depicting the outdoor dining area. Please contact Planning staff for a base plan that can be marked-up based on your predetermined outdoor dining area. Your plan must include the following elements:
- Table & Chair arrangement. Please keep in mind ADA spacing requirements when considering the table and chair layout. All entrances and exits must be kept fully accessible.
- Outdoor dining area enclosure specifications (fencing, planters, barricades etc.). The enclosure must be sufficiently weighted or anchored such that it is not easily moved. A detail depicting how this is achieved must be provided on the plans.
- Trash receptacles (if applicable)
- Outdoor bus stations (if applicable)
- Site lighting (if applicable)
- Umbrella details (if applicable)
- Heater details including propane tank storage information (if applicable)
Fees: The fees associated with the application will be $210.00 + $50.00/1,000 square feet of new use (or fraction thereof).
APPLICATION SUBMITTAL PROCESS:
Once you have compiled all of the information listed above, please submit the application through the West Hartford CityView Permit Portal here: https://cv.westhartfordct.gov/CityViewPortal/.
If you have not already done so, you must register as a Portal user. Once registered, select “Apply for a Planning Permit” and select Site Plan. Follow the prompts from there to input all relevant application information, upload the required plan documents and pay fees. At the time of application submittal, fee payment may be partial. Once the application is received and reviewed for completeness, the remaining fees will be made payable.
Site plan applications must be acted upon by the Town within 65 days, but can likely be done more quickly depending on the completeness of the plans provided at submittal.
For questions regarding any part of this process or requirements, please contact Senior Planner, Brian Pudlik either by phone at (860) 561-7553 or by email at brian.pudlik@westhartfordct.gov.
NOTE: Renewal applications should not be submitted through the Portal. Instead, please email your application and completed materials to Parking Operations Manager Michael Kipphut at Michael.Kipphut@WestHartfordCT.gov. At this time, there is no fee for renewal or for use of the R.O.W., but the Town reserves the right to impose one in the future.