UIDRB approves patio expansion at 1576 North High but rejects exterior TVs

The University District Design Review Board on March 26 conditionally approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for an expanded patio at 1576 North High Street but declined to approve exterior-mounted televisions proposed for the new patio space.

Staff told the board the university district plan discourages televisions, LED displays and amplified sound in outdoor dining areas and recommended conditional support "with the condition being the removal of the television screens from the patio space." The applicant said the TVs would be largely hidden under a gazebo and offered to downsize from 65 inches to 50or 55 inches if that would address concerns.

Board members repeatedly said they were uneasy about visible external TVs on the street. One board member asked for a pedestrian-perspective diagram to show that the television would not be visible from the sidewalk; another said the design team could bring back a screened solution if the owner insisted. "The guidelines state ... televisions, LED displays, and amplified sounds are not appropriate," the staff member said.

After discussion a motion passed to approve the revised patio boundary and railing as submitted but to exclude the exterior televisions from the approval; the applicant may return with revised designs showing how a screen or gazebo would fully hide a monitor from passing pedestrians. The board's conditional approval requires the applicant to remove exterior TVs from the current submission or provide convincing documentation that the screens would be invisible to passersby.