Published: Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Snohomish considers alcohol changes
Some First Street restaurants want to serve wine and beer to diners at sidewalk tables.
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Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
A couple walk along First Street in Snohomish recently. The city is considering changing its code so restaurants can serve alcohol to sidewalk diners.
SNOHOMISH -- The city may change its approach to outdoor dining by the end of the summer, allowing First Street restaurants to serve alcohol at sidewalk tables.
While drinking is a steady concern on the bar-heavy downtown block, the plan has been praised by the City Council, city staff and downtown business owners.
In large part, that's because alcohol service may face restrictions that keep the street from turning into a big beer garden.
"They're not going to be standing out here drinking a beer," said Kimberly McIlrath, president of the business group Historic Downtown Snohomish. "It's dining."
Businesses have informally used the sidewalk for dining for years, setting up benches and putting out tables.
However, the city decided to revisit that loose policy after First Street business owner Don Everest requested outdoor seating at his new restaurant, Cathouse Pizza. He serves beer and wine.
Everest sees outdoor dining as a way to enliven the street and spur business.
"You see outdoor activity; I think that draws people in," Everest said. "It's a win-win."
Alcohol-fueled violence connected to downtown bars has brought concerns over liquor into sharper focus in recent years.
City staff is tailoring the new rules for outdoor dining with that in mind.
"We are trying to front-load it with limitations," Planning Director Corbitt Loch said.
For instance, only restaurants may be allowed to serve drinks. Those restaurants will be required to stop service by 10 p.m., hours before bars close. And the plan will conform to rules set up by the state Liquor Control Board.
The City Council has expressed initial support for the plan, and may take up the issue at its Aug. 17 meeting.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com.
While drinking is a steady concern on the bar-heavy downtown block, the plan has been praised by the City Council, city staff and downtown business owners.
In large part, that's because alcohol service may face restrictions that keep the street from turning into a big beer garden.
"They're not going to be standing out here drinking a beer," said Kimberly McIlrath, president of the business group Historic Downtown Snohomish. "It's dining."
Businesses have informally used the sidewalk for dining for years, setting up benches and putting out tables.
However, the city decided to revisit that loose policy after First Street business owner Don Everest requested outdoor seating at his new restaurant, Cathouse Pizza. He serves beer and wine.
Everest sees outdoor dining as a way to enliven the street and spur business.
"You see outdoor activity; I think that draws people in," Everest said. "It's a win-win."
Alcohol-fueled violence connected to downtown bars has brought concerns over liquor into sharper focus in recent years.
City staff is tailoring the new rules for outdoor dining with that in mind.
"We are trying to front-load it with limitations," Planning Director Corbitt Loch said.
For instance, only restaurants may be allowed to serve drinks. Those restaurants will be required to stop service by 10 p.m., hours before bars close. And the plan will conform to rules set up by the state Liquor Control Board.
The City Council has expressed initial support for the plan, and may take up the issue at its Aug. 17 meeting.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com.
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