It’s not a big deal for new Arlington Heights restaurants to install special doors if they are serving food outside or through drive-through windows.
That’s not stopping some leaders from questioning village rules that bar the kind of open-air dining found in Chicago and in other suburbs.
A few village trustees this week took advantage of a board discussion of restaurant rule changes to raise a question that’s bothered them for years: Why can’t restaurants open their windows to the street or outside dining area and let breezes in?
The proposed rule changes will require new and remodeled restaurants that serve food outside to install doors and drive-through windows that automatically close and are protected with air curtains. Most restaurants that serve food outdoors or through a window have these protections already, said James McCalister, director of the health services department.
But Trustee John Scaletta, himself a downtown Arlington Heights businessman, has seen restaurants with huge open doors in other suburbs, so why can’t Arlington Heights have something similar?
“Open air dining creates a different ambience,” he said. “I’ve heard from many, many downtown restaurants who want to do this.”
Scaletta recognizes the concerns of the health services department, which is determined to keep insects and rodents out of restaurants.
“I don’t want to be dining with bugs flying around me, but I believe that there has to be a way to have open air dining and still be able to adhere to the village’s and/or the state’s health concerns,” he said.
Sean Freres, environmental health officer in Arlington Heights, said state law requires screens on restaurant windows.
But Sue Kowalczyk, assistant director of environmental health for the DuPage Health Department, believes the law applies to the kitchen and areas of food preparation.
“We go into the facility and work with the food service people to reach designs that meets their concept and food safety,” she said. “It’s not that much different once you allow eating outside to having a fresh air dining room.”
Creating an environment that allows open-air dining while maintaining safety standards is not easy and takes proper planning, said Kowalczyk. The DuPage department likes to see automatic doors that open without wait staff having to touch them and then shut again. Big openings require air curtains, she added.
Village Trustee Joseph Farwell seconded Scaletta’s questioning of the restrictions. He thinks the urban dining ambience will not come to Arlington Heights unless restaurants really push for it.
“I hate regulations that put unnecessary limits on business’ growing,” he said. “And I hate legislation that the rest of the state is expected to adhere to that excludes Chicago.”
McCalister says he can understand the charm of the urban open-air restaurants—maybe.
“Flies alone carry 90 different pathogens, and it’s our job to keep flies and other pests out of restaurants,” he said.
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