Breakers CEO Leone urges Palm Beach officials to increase outdoor seating

Breakers President and CEO Paul Leone is urging the town to consider giving restaurants more outdoor seating without it coming at the cost of indoor seating. 

Speaking recently to the Planning and Zoning Commission, which is reviewing the issue, Leone said, “If I had a vote in this, I would add 20 to 25% additional seats outside and test it. We can always go back or add more."

He told the March 16 board meeting he was pleased officials are discussing the possibility of expanding outdoor seating.

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“It’s one of these things that in the course of COVID, has been brought to our attention as something that was missing in the town. People want to be outside as often as they can, specially in this beautiful town,” Leone said.

“If you add barriers, umbrellas and fences, before you know it it’s growing into something much bigger. Considering the size of the sidewalks in this town, I would limit it to a certain area with only tables and chairs,” he said.

Planning and Zoning Vice Chair Richard Kleid asked Leone how maximizing seating capacity inside would be beneficial to the restaurants. Leone said restaurants inside The Breakers, are operating at 70% capacity so they already have a lot of empty seats indoors.

“A restaurant that was designed for a certain number of seats ... if you strip out 20(%) or 30% of the seats it just doesn’t feel right. I think it hurts the ambiance inside,” Leone said. 

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More seats inside could help to accommodate outside diners in case of inclement weather, Leone said, adding “I don’t think you can assume every restaurant will fill up.''

Commissioner Richard Pollock said the committee and staff will have to consider how noise, traffic and parking will impact residents in areas close to the restaurants.

“How do we control the noise?” Pollock said. “It’s going to impact the neighborhoods. Residents are going to be up in arms.”

Leone said he would start by allowing a “modest increase” in outdoor seating while controlling possible loud music and noise.

He told the Daily News that he didn't anticipate noise  complaints being a problem at any of The Breakers' restaurants.

"In the 20 years that we have successfully operated Echo and Flagler Steakhouse, we have never had noise issues, " Leone said. "Since the opening of Henry’s Palm Beach last June, we have not had any noise complaints there either."

He reiterated the point made to the commission that removing indoor seating to add outdoor seats would be a mistake.

"Imagine designing your kitchen or dining room at home to seat 12 people, but then putting a table that seats six people in the space," Leone said.

Commissioner Nicki McDonald said it would be helpful if the committee had some aesthetic guidelines when it comes to the use of umbrellas or barriers in outdoor dining areas. 

Chairman Michael Ainslie said the commission should consider adding retractable awnings as acceptable because a number of restaurants in town are already using them, he said. 

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Last month,  the Town Council asked Planning and Zoning Director Wayne Bergman to review current regulations for outdoor seating as the first step toward possibly expanding it. 

Bergman suggested Tuesday that the town could create a sidewalk cafe permit for outdoor seating that would be reviewed by the town each year. He said he was reviewing different articles of the code with Zoning Administrator Paul Castro to see if they can make modifications to benefit the restaurants.

“We’ve allowed all this temporary outdoor seatings in at least 20 restaurants during COVID. But once COVID is over, all these temporary approvals will go away. Restaurants will have to come to the council for special exceptions for outdoor seating,” Bergman said.