It appears restaurants in Oxford Village will soon be able to offer their patrons outdoor seating year-round.

Last week, council voted 4-0 to approve a zoning ordinance amendment that would allow outdoor cafes and seating areas on private and public property to operate between Nov. 2 and April 14 with special use approval from the planning commission.

“I’d envision it happening way more often on private property than on public just because of the logistics of trying to operate on public property in the winter,” said village Planner Chris Khorey, of the Northville-based McKenna Associates.

The ordinance currently allows restaurants, with special use approval, to have outdoor seating on private and public property only between April 15 and Nov. 1.

In order to operate during the colder months, the proposed amendment requires outdoor seating areas to be equipped with temporary heaters, the design of which must be approved by the planning commission and fire chief.

It also requires the prompt removal of every snowfall exceeding 2 inches. The snow must be piled in a designated removal area that’s located either within the seating area or elsewhere on private property.

Under the proposed ordinance amendment, outdoor seating areas on private property from April 15 to Nov. 1 would no longer require special use approval.

“The planning commission will still review it and there will still be a planning commission meeting,” Khorey explained. “The difference is there’s no subjective criteria (as there is with special use approval). As long as the boxes (on the list of ordinance conditions) are checked, they’re approved.”

Not having to publish a public notice regarding a special land use request and conduct a public hearing for it will reduce the cost to the applicant, Khorey noted.

Restaurants looking to have an outdoor seating area on public property would still be required to seek special use approval as well as approval from the village council and the Michigan Department of Transportation in cases where any part of it is located in the M-24 right-of-way.