With concerns met, city approves outdoor dining plans for new Latin restaurant in Naples
With their concerns met, City Council approved the outdoor dining plans for a new Latin restaurant planned for downtown Naples.
Last week, Council voted unanimously to approve the plans, with fewer seats and tables, and tweaks to parking.
The petition involved an eatery known as Unidos by restauranteurs Salvador and Jaime Munoz at the corner of U.S. 41 and Central Avenue.
"We're very grateful for the approval and are really excited to be a part of the community," he said after winning Council's support.
In August, Council continued the outdoor dining request, rather than rejecting it, asking the owners and architects to bring back a better scheme.
Council raised parking and safety concerns, expressing the most angst about outdoor dining on the west side, closest to U.S. 41.
The new plan eliminated all of that seating.
It also added a bollard, or stop, for handicap parking, and several curb stops, or bumpers, on the west side, facing the sidewalk, to improve safety.
There are now 12 tables, 24 chairs, and six bar stools, positioned only on the north side, along Central Avenue.
The Munozes had requested 18 tables, with 36 chairs, along with six stools, on the north and west sides of the building.
At the initial hearing, Salvador Munoz told Council he needed the additional 12 seats, positioned on the west side, to meet the state's requirements for a liquor license as a restaurant, an important part of his concept. The eatery will offer margaritas and other authentic cocktails as part of the dining experience – similar to what he and his wife created at their Latin restaurant in Evergreen Park, Illinois.
Earlier: Latin restaurant proposed for downtown Naples will have to rethink its outdoor dining plans
Before the decisive vote last week, project architect Brian Leaders, with BDL Design, explained to Council that more room for seating had been identified inside the restaurant to meet the license requirements. So, the owners no longer needed the outdoor seating on the west side, resolving the quandary.
City planners didn't raise any concerns about safety or other worries, pointing out the new plan freed up the sidewalk that caused so much uneasiness.
The restaurant will span 3,200 square feet, replacing Starbucks and Valento’s Pizza & Hoagies. The longtime establishments have both closed at the high-profile corner, leaving a visible void.
The outdoor seating area will span about 460 square feet, sitting all on private property.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples restaurant gets approval for revised outdoor dining plans
