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CITY OF WEST CHICAGO
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: AAS te
Outdoor Dining
Discussion Only FILE NUMBER:
COMMITTEE AGENDA DATE: April 11 2022
COUNCIL AGENDA DATE:
STAFF REVIEW: Tom Dabareiner, AICP SIGNATURE 7 ae
APPROVED BY CITY ADMINISTRATOR: Michael Guttman SIGNATURE
COVID-19 caused a large shift in consumer behavior, from increased online shopping to more meals
at home. In fact, it had a drastic impact on the restaurant industry. Ten to 15% of restaurants closed
and some estimates put losses at $400 billion. Although more people are eating out these days, there
are three restaurant-related pandemic-era trends expected to stick around long term:
1) Eating at Home
Drive-Through Windows — While eating indoors was off limits during portions of the pandemic, restau-
rants with drive-through lanes performed quite well.
Third-Party Delivery — Third-party delivery grew by as much as 17% over the last two years and could
double in the next three years.
Curbside Pick-Up and Takeout — Many consumers enjoyed the convenience of calling restaurants
without drive-throughs and picking-up the food in the restaurant or curbside.
2) Alcohol to Go
Before the pandemic, this was nearly unheard of, but it has become so popular that many states are
making their temporary To-Go law permanent. Restaurant owners can market branded drinks that
cannot be purchased in a liquor store. The City of West Chicago allows serving alcohol outdoors if
that area is on private property and properly roped off or otherwise demarcated.
3) Outdoor Dining
With no or limited seating inside restaurants, many moved seating outside. Even in cold climates,
heated outdoor structures made eating out a welcome adventure. There was often significant ex-
pense associated with making this possible. Instead of just packing away the tents, heaters, chairs
and tables, many restaurants would like to continue making outdoor eating an option. Inquiries have
been made about continuing this practice, which is currently not allowed in West Chicago on side-
walks and on public property.
Because of the inquiries, Staff would like to hear from members of the Development Committee, fo-
cused on Outdoor Dining.
ACTIONS PROPOSED:
If desired, direct Staff to develop regulations to allow permanent or seasonal outdoor dining, along

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with liquor service, including within public Right of Way. A zoning ordinance text amendment would be
required. Also, a new or amended liquor license text amendment would be needed to accommodate
outdoor service in the public right of way. Staff will prepare draft text amendments for the Committee’s
future consideration.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: