In the wake of complaints concerning Madison's smoking ban, two downtown Madison bar owners gained approval for adding outside smoking patios Monday.
The City Council Plan Commission approved outdoor seating patios for both Quinton's Bar and Deli, 317 W. Gorham St., and Mondays, 523 State St.
In order to receive approval, Quinton's had to replace lighting fixtures, add landscape plantings between the fence and service area, and replace a wooden fensce surrounding the building..
Though some bars are requesting outdoor seating areas in reaction to the smoking ban, Ald. Austin King, District 8, and Ald. Robbie Webber, District 5, said hearings for outdoor patios at bars and eating establishments are never unusual.
\Outdoor seating proposals are fairly common. We've been dealing with them before July first and since July first. The only problem we run into is when there are residents in the area who object,"" Webber said.
Matt, a manager at Monday's who would not disclose his last name, said smoking patios are beneficial, but not vital to downtown bars.
""It's important because, obviously, you have a student population that does want to smoke in the bars. So it does help to keep business in our bar,"" he said.
