WEST SPRINGFIELD – The West Springfield Town Council has agreed to amend the town’s Street Furniture Ordinance in support of Mayor William Reichelt’s push to encourage outdoor dining.

On Mar. 19, the Council voted 8-0 to upgrade the ordinance, at the request of the mayor, to include a new way of charging business and restaurant owners for outdoor furniture. The town will now require an annual fee of $100 from business owners, which will cover the total of outdoor items. Previously, individual items came with their own individual costs.

“One thing I’ve been working on internally is to encourage outdoor dining, and this is the next step in making it easier,” he said. “It does the purpose of eliminating or controlling those furniture pieces without having the unintended costs of discouraging outdoor dining – which is something we want to have in West Springfield.”

The original ordinance, which dates back to the early 2000’s, was used as a way to combat newspaper stands crowding the town sidewalks, said Reichelt. The council wanted to place a fee, which ended up including tables, chairs and other items that could be placed on the sidewalk. Each furniture-piece, such as a chair or heat-lamp, counted as an individual item with an individual cost to the restaurateur or business owner.

Last year, Reichelt began working with the Town Clerk to update the ordinance, encouraging the council to simplify the process and reduce the costs for businesses. The Town agreed on the idea of charging business owners a blanket fee of $100 per year, which would include all outdoor items – regardless of the number.

“It’s just streamlining the way to do street furniture,” said Reichelt.

He added that he thinks outdoor dining is important for the town, especially when there is nicer weather outside. He said he believes the changes are in the best interest of the community, and will provide for a better business environment within the central business district.

The National Restaurant Association website states that many restaurants can capitalize on additional outdoor seating any time of the year. The organization offers tips to restaurants seeking to expand, including, creating an outside-only happy hour special, implementing sidewalk seating if a patio isn’t an option and providing a backyard garden “refuge” or festive beer garden.

“Our central business district could feel like a mini-Northampton,” said Reichelt. “With outdoor seating, you might be more encouraged to sit down and grab a pizza or a sandwich – especially when the weather is nicer.”

The councilors had no questions about the mayor’s recommendations before voting to implement the updates.