All sidewalk cafes shall comply with the following standards:
A. A sidewalk cafe shall have a pedestrian walkway with a clear unobstructed width of three feet between the sidewalk cafe and any obstacle (tree, pole, post, sign, planting area, bus shelter, etc.). The pedestrian walkway shall be provided with an unobstructed height of seven feet between the ground plane and an overhead obstacle (tree branch, overhead sign, awning, etc.).
B. No sidewalk cafe may be permanently located within the sidewalk area by means of raised deck platform, fence, walls or other structures or enclosed by fixed walls, except that sidewalk cafe boundaries may be delineated by the use of temporary barriers such as balustrades, cordons or railings. Any such temporary barriers must be easily removed and three feet or less in height above the sidewalk. Under no circumstances shall temporary barriers as authorized hereunder be allowed in the identified pedestrian walkway, nor shall a temporary barrier be affixed to the sidewalk or to any permanent structure, except that it may be attached by removable clips or devices approved in advance by the City Engineer.
C. The City Engineer may approve temporary platforms or similar structures for the sole purpose of leveling sidewalk cafe areas on which sidewalk cafes are located.
D. No sidewalk cafe shall be situated:
(1) Within six feet of any pedestrian crossing as defined in the City of Reading Code.
(2) Within five feet along the street line of any fire hydrant or other emergency facility.
(3) Within five feet of any driveway.
(4) Within 10 feet to the rear of any sign marking a designated bus stop.
(5) In a manner which restricts sight easements of vehicular traffic.
(6) In a manner which obstructs traffic control devices or traffic signs.
E. All sidewalk cafes shall be open to the air.
F. Canopies and awnings may be permitted in accordance with specifications, as delineated by the City Building Code
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and Chapter 600, Zoning, which relate to height, placement, interference with pedestrian passage and traffic sight easements. HARB approval may be required.
G. Sidewalk cafes shall in no way obstruct the ingress to or the egress from any building or business.
H. All sidewalk cafes and their attendant facilities or improvements shall comply with clearances required for structures in relation to utility lines as provided in the City Building Code.
I. No sidewalk cafe shall be located on the sidewalk between the building facade and a bus stop.
J. No portion of a sidewalk cafe or its facilities, appurtenances, planters, shrubs, tables, chairs or other materials shall be permitted in the pedestrian walkway as defined in this chapter.
K. Sidewalk cafes shall provide and maintain adequate lighting in and around the pedestrian walkway so as to allow sidewalk users to observe and avoid obstructions.
L. Sidewalk cafes shall not obstruct access to hydrants, streetlights, telephones, mailboxes, transit stops or any other public service facility on the sidewalk area or street.
M. No signs shall be hung or attached to any portion of the sidewalk cafe, except those signs that are in compliance with provisions of Chapter 600, Zoning.
N. A sidewalk cafe may be expanded to an abutting property with the written permission of that abutting property owner.
O. In the event that the proposed sidewalk cafe is not in front of a restaurant or abutting property, the applicant must provide written permission from the owner of the property and reasonable procedures that a sidewalk cafe can be operated in a noncontiguous location.
2. Editor's Note: See Ch. 180, Construction Codes.