Iowa City considering exceptions for rooftop patios

IOWA CITY - Area residents might soon be seeing more options when it comes to outdoor services areas in Iowa City.

But rather than the outdoor patios and sidewalk cafes that have become increasingly popular downtown, patrons could find themselves relaxing on the roof of their favorite restaurant or bar.

With a growing interest for rooftop amenities among a handful of business owners, Iowa City staff are recommending the creation of a special exception process to ensure any future rooftop service areas meet a list of desired circumstances based on safety, accessibility and nuisance mitigation.

Brian Flynn, partner with Coralville's 30 hop on the Iowa River Landing, which opened with the county's first rooftop dining space last fall, said he has been working on plans for almost eight years to add a rooftop service area on top of a portion of his Iowa City bar Joe's Place, 115 Iowa Ave.

'With the popularity of outdoor seating - We're putting outdoor seating into the street - I think to put it on the top of a bar or restaurant just makes sense,” Flynn said.

Geoff Fruin, assistant to the city manager, said the recommendations - which the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss Thursday - is to create a list of criteria for businesses looking to expand services to their rooftops.

'If you wanted to have a rooftop service area you would go through a special exception process that would go through the Board of Adjustments, that would allow us to look at individual requests,” he said.

Currently, businesses wishing to add rooftop areas can do so, but adding a way to factor unique circumstances such as the service use requested and impact on the neighborhood will better define an approval process, Fruin said.

Recommendations from city staff would require acceptable design, compliance with outdoor lighting regulations, no amplified noise without a temporary use permit and a management plan for safety and compliance.

Current regulations do not allow establishments - other than those grandfathered in - to serve alcohol on upper floors and the 500-foot rule defines rooftop alcohol sales as non-conforming use.

Proposed amendments - which the Iowa City Council will ultimately vote on - would allow drinks to be served on the rooftop, as part of the special exception process.

Those seeking rooftop service areas, both in new and existing structures, also would be required to provide elevator access, which is above and beyond current Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

'We feel that accessibility is very, very important,” Fruin said. 'We want to see that as an essential component to having a rooftop service area.”

Flynn said adding the services, accessibility and infrastructure to handle a rooftop crowd will come with a sizable cost.

'I think it's worth the investment to be able to give the people that option and that experience and be able to be outside and enjoy Iowa City from a different level,” he said.

Adding services to the roof of Joe's Place is pending commission and council vote, but Flynn said the hope is to start construction in the near future.

Joe Tiefenthaler, FilmScene executive director, said the downtown theater's rooftop space, which became possible through some special amendments and first screened late night movies for crowds of about 40 people last summer, has been immensely popular.

'It's a fun way to offer unique cultural events to the community, for us it's a boon as to what we can offer,” Tiefenthaler said. 'It would be a good thing I think to see it grow. I think it's one of those unique spaces or offerings that Iowa City could embrace.”