Palatine council OKs staff discretion to use sidewalks and parking stalls for outdoor dining

The Palatine council agreed May 27 to empower staff to work with businesses on short-term sidewalk and parking-stall closures to expand outdoor seating while ensuring pedestrian clearance and safety.

Mike, a village staff member, said the village could close limited sidewalk segments or adjacent parking stalls and deploy barricades and signage where needed. "Maybe in some areas we could close the public sidewalk then don't have those parameters," Mike said, noting the village has alternate sidewalks on many downtown blocks and would preserve pedestrian routes.

Councilors emphasized this authority was intended for short-term, case-by-case use: full or extended street closures would need a formal council decision and more planning. Mayor Jim Schwantz and councilors asked staff to balance the needs of restaurants with other businesses that will reopen and to monitor impacts during the 10-day pilot period before the June 8 review.

Business owners on the call, including Celia of Suite C's, asked about using private landlord-owned parking stalls; staff replied landlords' permission and a simple site plan would suffice for many cases.