Palatine Sets Up Guidelines For Outdoor Dining

PALATINE, IL — The village of Palatine has set up special temporary guidelines for restaurants and bars hoping to offer outdoor service as the state enters Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's reopening plan on Friday. In Phase 3, outdoor food and drink service is allowed at establishments meeting special safety guidelines, and salons and retail stores can reopen as well.

Leading up to Friday, municipalities have been scrambling to set up temporary guidance for businesses wanting to ramp up sales while still meeting guidelines set up by the state that promote social distancing.

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The Palatine Village Council met in a special session Thursday and established "operational criteria" for all outdoor dining areas. Businesses must now complete a "streamlined" registration process and provide the village with the information it needs to allow outdoor service at that establishment.

The registration guidelines, which is meant for businesses with previously existing or newly proposed outdoor dining areas, can be found on the village's website. Under the guidelines, businesses must comply with protocols set up by the Illinois Department of Public Health and other state agencies, tables must be at least six feet apart from each other and no more than six people will be allowed at each table. In addition, customers must be seated if they want to be served food or alcohol.

For outdoor spaces that are in open areas, awnings or tents that do not have side walls and that meet village requirements can be used. The outdoor dining areas can not open before 7 a.m. and must close by 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday. The establishments may remain open through 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Live music is prohibited, according to the village of Palatine guidelines.

The village also set up guidance on where businesses can operate:

• Outdoor dining can be set up in parking spaces but a sufficient amount of off-street parking for customers must continue to be provided
• Businesses in strip malls, plazas, shopping centers and other multi-tenant spaces must secure approval from the property owner/manager granting permission to use the common parking, pedestrian, or green-space areas for outdoor dining prior to expanding into the area.
• Private sidewalks and walkways may be utilized for outdoor seating provided there is still means for pedestrian traffic on the remaining portion of the sidewalk, and tables are spaced a minimum of six feet from the establishment's entrance.

In addition, the businesses should provide hand sanitation or washing stations, according to village officials.

Durty Nellie's is among Palatine's temporarily shuttered businesses that plans to reopen Friday. The downstairs beer garden and rooftop patio will be open from 4 to 11 p.m. on its reopening day.

"We will be following CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of all customers and employees. Thank you for your continued support as we navigate through our new reality," according to a note posted on Durty Nellie's Facebook page.

Lamplighters will reopen on Saturday and Tap House Grill plans to open its patio back up at 11 a.m. on Friday.

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