Greenwich delays vote on outdoor‑dining fee changes after DPW proposes removable barrier sleeves
March 29, 2026 | Town of Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut
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The Greenwich Board of Selectmen on March 26 postponed a decision on proposed 2026 outdoor‑dining fee changes after the Department of Public Works presented a plan to fit removable sleeves over concrete dining barriers.
In a presentation, Jim Michael of DPW said sleeves would slide over the existing concrete barricades so they could be removed for storage or movement, and that the coverings would be a solid dark green chosen to avoid sign‑regulation conflicts. “If they could last three years, that would be probably a reasonable time frame,” Michael said, adding the incremental cost would be “about $15 a foot” when spread over that period for typical restaurant barrier lengths.
The board’s discussion focused on balancing safety with aesthetics and giving restaurant owners time to adapt if the town requires uniform sleeves. First Selectman Fred Camillo emphasized the need to avoid surprises for business owners and town operations, and select members agreed to allow additional stakeholder feedback before voting. Lauren Raven moved to postpone consideration; the board set the next vote for two weeks.
Why it matters: Outdoor dining remains a high‑visibility part of downtown life and touches zoning and safety rules. DPW stressed that changing the concrete barriers themselves could reduce safety; sleeves are presented as a cosmetic solution that keeps the existing safety infrastructure intact.
Details and next steps: DPW officials said sleeves might last about three years but could be damaged; most restaurants use roughly 40 linear feet of barrier on average, and sleeving would add to barrier costs but was estimated to keep total barrier costs under a 10% increase compared to last year when amortized. The board instructed staff to circulate updated cost figures and solicit input from the Chamber and affected restaurants ahead of the next meeting.
The board did not adopt any fee changes at the meeting; the matter will return for a vote in two weeks.
In a presentation, Jim Michael of DPW said sleeves would slide over the existing concrete barricades so they could be removed for storage or movement, and that the coverings would be a solid dark green chosen to avoid sign‑regulation conflicts. “If they could last three years, that would be probably a reasonable time frame,” Michael said, adding the incremental cost would be “about $15 a foot” when spread over that period for typical restaurant barrier lengths.
The board’s discussion focused on balancing safety with aesthetics and giving restaurant owners time to adapt if the town requires uniform sleeves. First Selectman Fred Camillo emphasized the need to avoid surprises for business owners and town operations, and select members agreed to allow additional stakeholder feedback before voting. Lauren Raven moved to postpone consideration; the board set the next vote for two weeks.
Why it matters: Outdoor dining remains a high‑visibility part of downtown life and touches zoning and safety rules. DPW stressed that changing the concrete barriers themselves could reduce safety; sleeves are presented as a cosmetic solution that keeps the existing safety infrastructure intact.
Details and next steps: DPW officials said sleeves might last about three years but could be damaged; most restaurants use roughly 40 linear feet of barrier on average, and sleeving would add to barrier costs but was estimated to keep total barrier costs under a 10% increase compared to last year when amortized. The board instructed staff to circulate updated cost figures and solicit input from the Chamber and affected restaurants ahead of the next meeting.
The board did not adopt any fee changes at the meeting; the matter will return for a vote in two weeks.
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