The City Council next week is expected to give the green light to an ordinance requiring restaurants with sidewalk cafes to get a license and secure insurance if they want to offer al fresco service.
The council has heard no negative comments about the new rules, which also require all restaurants with sidewalk dining to allow a minimum of 5 feet of sidewalk space for pedestrian passage.
Although the city has had no problems with current downtown Wheaton eateries with sidewalk cafes, like the Front Street Cocina and Starbucks, there were past problems with a now-closed business that left indoor furniture on the sidewalk during the winter season, city officials said.
As a result, city officials said the new rules would give them the power to fine businesses that don’t comply with the ordinance. The new rules also spell out the length of the outdoor eating season, requiring restaurants to remove all outdoor furniture between the first measurable snowfall after Sept. 30–or Nov. 1 at the very latest–and April 1.
