Monroeville restaurants get temporary OK to use parking lots, sidewalks as outdoor seating
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Monroeville council placed a temporary relaxation to its rules governing how restaurants manage outdoor seating.
The resolution, passed unanimously, allows restaurateurs to apply for a temporary permit allowing them to reconfigure parking lots, and in some cases, sidewalks, into outdoor seating areas.
Allegheny County is one of 34 in the state currently within Gov. Tom Wolf’s “green phase,” the last of three phases before a return to pre-pandemic operations.
Restrictions during the green phase include restaurants and entertainment venues operating at 50% capacity.
The outdoor seating initiative started with Sean Logan, president and CEO of the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce. He said he reached out to Monroeville officials on behalf of the chamber’s roughly 450 members. Logan said some restaurants in Monroeville don’t have existing outdoor seating areas — but they have parking lots.
He said allowing them to use that space could increase business.
“We thought this would just provide local restaurants with a tool to help with this green phase before they actually flip the switch to open fully back up,” Logan said. “I give mayor and council kudos for making it easy for restaurants to do this and passing it.”
Monroeville Manager Tim Little said the resolution requires restaurant owners and managers to submit a plan to Paul Whealdon, Monroeville zoning officer. The plan must cover how the new seating arrangement will keep staff and patrons safe from traffic, and how the establishment will continue to follow distancing guidelines.
There is a $50 fee associated with applying for the temporary permit, Little said. As of Tuesday afternoon, no restaurants had applied.
Bob Wratcher, Monroeville’s solicitor, said relaxation of the zoning ordinance is temporary and is set to expire Dec. 31. It would expire earlier if Wolf’s office removes restrictions before the end of the year, he said.