Four downtown Oxford eateries received 3-2 approval from the village council last week to set up outdoor cafes on public property located next to their buildings.
‘I think it’s important that we, as a community, encourage outdoor seating,? said Councilman Tony Albensi.
However, before Victoria’s Delights, Casa Real, the not-yet-open Ox Bar & Grill and the 24th Street Sports Tavern start serving food and drinks al fresco, their plans must be in compliance with the zoning ordinance, and gain approval from the village planning commission and state Liquor Control Commission.
After all that, each plan must be brought back to council for final approval.
Objections were raised to two of the eateries? plans for outdoor seating.
Ron Rolando, owner of Great Lakes Mercantile, voiced his opposition to Victoria’s Delights, his next door neighbor, taking over the public property behind the bistro because that would limit access to his store, which sells Michigan-made items.
‘I’m not against outdoor cafes, but it would severely restrict us,? he said. ‘We’ve used that access and everybody else has for a very long time.?
Opposition was also expressed to the Ox Bar & Grill’s proposal to transform a portion of the public property on the south side of its building ? the paved area of Centennial Park adjacent to the future eatery ? into an outdoor cafe.
‘That’s a public park that’s used for public purposes,? said resident Steve Allen. ‘It’s not a sidewalk, per se, behind a building, it’s a part of the park.?
In Allen’s opinion, fencing a portion of the park off and making it available only to the Ox Bar & Grill’s paying customers would deprive residents the use of a public asset.
‘I’m dead set against it,? he said.
Councilman Tom Benner agreed. ‘I don’t think an outdoor eatery should be in the park,? he said.
Councilwoman Teri Stiles recalled when that issue originally came before the planning commission, back when the restaurant there was JonMarx Steak & Seafood, officials were ‘dead set against them using that property? for outside seating.
Council made it clear that even though it was granting the eateries? permission to use the public property, this was only being done as the first step, required by ordinance, to get the review process moving. In other words, none of the four outdoor cafe proposals is a done deal yet.
‘I’m for allowing the process to continue,? said village President Chris Bishop. ‘I don’t think, by any means, us approving any of this is saying, ‘Yes, we endorse the plan in the park.? That’s for the planning commission and the engineers and everybody (else) to decide.?
Benner, who voted against the proposals because of the park issue and the ‘hardship? claimed by Rolando, indicated he has a problem in general with businesses being allowed to use publicly-owned property for free.
‘I don’t think we should give anybody the use of any public property that the taxpayers are paying for,? he said.
Albensi disagreed and said it came down to a ‘difference in philosophy.?
‘I think we should encourage people coming to this town and I think if people see outdoor eateries, they’re going to come to this town,? he said.