The Planning Board decided not to take action on a request by 290 Maine co-owner Ryan Ricci to turn a section of the parking space next to his building into an outdoor bar for the rest of the summer. Ricci said that his customers tend to park on Main Street, and that there would still be enough parking for those who use the lot, even with the outdoor bar.
NORWAY — The Planning Board declined to take action on a request from the co-owner of 290 Maine to extend his outdoor bar for the rest of the summer.
At the July 13 board meeting, Ryan Ricci, the co-owner of 290 Maine, said that the pub already has been approved to have an outdoor bar for eight days during the summer.
However, he said, he wants to extend the outdoor bar for the “rest of the summer.”
“It was a huge success having an outdoor bar for the Norway Arts Festival, and people said they loved it,” Ricci said. “We have a maximum capacity of 49 people for the pub, and with an outdoor bar, we could double the number, which helps bring more people to Norway, and helps us make more money.”
He said that the plan is to put up a short lattice fence similar to the one at Norway Brewing Company that will block off the entrance and back access to a section of the parking lot next to 290 Maine.
“We’d put up picnic tables and have an outdoor bar,” Ricci told the Planning Board. “It would be kind of like what the Norway Brewing Company has outside. You wouldn’t be able to enter the outdoor drinking area unless you went through our front door.”
He added that the fencing would be “easily movable if there’s an emergency,” and that the side of 290 Maine has a ramp to account for people with disabilities.
Ricci said that he spoke with Police Chief Rob Federico, who said that he liked the idea of an outdoor bar for 290 Maine, but he wanted the pub to be careful that “people aren’t passing bottles or drinks over the fencing to people on the outside.”
Planning Board Chairman Dennis Gray asked Ricci how the people who use the parking lot would feel about losing parking spaces.
Ricci said he had not spoken to building owner Shawn Casey about the issue but planned to broach the subject with him if the Planning Board approved the outdoor bar.
Gray said that he was “reluctant to close off that parking lot for the entire summer.”
“I can see doing it for the eight days that you have permission for now, but there are only a certain number of parking spots there,” Gray said. “There must be other people who rely on that parking.”
Gray suggested that Ricci get written permission from Casey and written comments from people who use the parking lot so the Planning Board would know where everyone stands on the issue.
“We could even do a public hearing and see what people think there,” Gray said.
Ricci agreed to speak with Casey and people in the area who use the parking lot.
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