City updates outdoor music, dining code

City of Stanwood Planning Commission met last Monday night and unanimously approved an ordinance that amended some of the regulations and language regarding outdoor eating and drinking establishments and public entertainment establishments.

Rebecca Lind, planning director, said the process started when the city council asked the planning commission to review the rules for outdoor eating.

Lind said the planning commission found that old code required permits for all outdoor entertainment, and limited outdoor eating space to 50 percent of an establishment’s indoor seating. The commission felt this was too restrictive. Instead, the commission wanted to help local businesses by making it easier for them to have live entertainment and outdoor eating.

As a result, Lind said, they set about to clean up the code’s language.

“The amended code follows common sense and is flexible for businesses,” Lind said.

The new code contains conditional use standards that businesses must comply with, but most permits have been done away with.

The only permit or fee remaining is $50 for a temporary use permit, which adds “some additional flexibility in the code to allow activities that are by nature short term and do not fit neatly into any zone.”

In addition, outdoor eating space of any capacity may be an accessory use of any restaurant that also has indoor seating, provided that all health codes and other regulations are followed, Lind said.

The amendments also clarified that schools in all zones are allowed, “to have live entertainment as an indoor or outdoor accessory use.”

Lind said this made sense, as schools traditionally hold dances and other activities that fall under the definition for live entertainment.

The amendment also explicitly allows “health clubs and gymnasiums in the commercial zones to have live indoor entertainment as an accessory or primary use.”

The previous regulations weren’t

meant to prohibit such uses, but the new ordinance clears up any questions, Lind said.

The definition of “live entertainment” has also been expanded to include indoor “karaoke, musical venues and dances with a DJ, Zumba and similar exercise or entertainment.”

The stipulation is that such establishments must have proper ventilation that allows the doors and windows to be kept closed, so as not to disturb nearby residences, Lind said.

The last big change was the hours outdoor entertainment is allowed. Under the revised code, outdoor live entertainment may take place between the hours of 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Indoor live entertainment is still allowed from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., and “background” music for atmospheric purposes is allowed during all hours of operation.

Lind said the ordinance will most likely be brought before council in May for their consideration.

Staff Reporter Jeremiah O’Hagan: 629-8066 ext. 125 or ohagan@scnews. com.