Restaurant Gets OK to Keep Patio Open Later

Modifying an earlier decision, the City Council decided Monday to allow a Coast Highway restaurant extended hours for its harbor-front patio.

The council agreed to let Windows on the Bay keep its patio open until midnight on Friday and Saturday and 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

The council has been in the middle of a tug of war between residents and businesses. Residents wanted the patio closed, saying they are disturbed by the noise.

Merchants criticized the council’s first decision--forcing the restaurant to close the patio after 9 p.m. weekdays and by 10 p.m. on weekends--saying the owner had been unfairly restricted. The patio had been open until 1 a.m. on weekends.

In a 5-2 vote Monday, the council said the initial restrictions may have been too harsh.

To avoid similar problems, Councilman John Hedges requested uniform noise restrictions for waterfront restaurants and bars.