Politics & Government

Rooftop Dining? Village Says Yes

Village board paves the way for restaurants wishing to serve food on the roof.

The Patchogue Village Board approved a resolution at last night's board meeting that paves the way for eateries in the D-3 zoned district to construct rooftop dining spaces at their establishments.

The decision to approve the dining spaces comes after an applicant for a rooftop deck was denied permission from the Planning Board because of other reasons not related to the dining space itself, according to village attorney Brian Egan. But village leaders went to the task of setting parameters for rooftop decks anyway. 

Restaurants wishing to build a rooftop dining space will have to apply for a special annual permit, which will need to be renewed every year for a fee, according to the outline of the new law. The dollar amount for that application has not yet been set by the board and will be the subject of the next meeting. However, the guidelines for any rooftop dining space is as follows:

  • Rooftop decks are only permissable in the D-3 zone, which, according to Egan runs approximately from Oak Street to Church Street, down to Main Street from Railroad Avenue to Rider Avenue. 
  • Rooftop dining spaces are not allowed within 750 feet of a residential area.
  • No live music will be permitted on the roof. 
  • Businesses must build a 46-inch wall around the roof, and a 36-inch barrier must be in place from the edge of the roof. 
  • Rooftop spaces must be owned and operated by the first-floor establishment.
  • Rooftop dining spaces must close when the downstairs business closes.
  • The rooftop must close at 9 p.m. on weekdays; 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 
  • Rooftop decks must have two means of egress: an interior staircase and an exterior fire escape. 
  • Lighting must be at or below the rooftop level.
  • Bars in which the public may congregate are not permitted on the roof.
After some deliberation the board removed a restriction that would have only allowed paper plates and plastic utensils to be used at the dining tables and would have restricted glass bottles. Some members of the board argued that a fine dining experience would require ceramic tableware and real utensils, as well as bottles of wine and beer. 

The vote was cast without the presence of Mayor Paul Pontieri, who is currently in Colorado. 


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