Vault gets nod for outdoor dining, new patio, awnings

YARDLEY BOROUGH – The sault Brewing Company has the go ahead to move forward with its plans for outdoor dining.

collowing a conditional use hearing that extended over two meetings, borough council on March 19 voted to let the Cain brothers create an outdoor dining area with a deck and pergola between the sault and Yardley Jewelers and to add awnings to the outside of the building.

James and John Cain opened the sault in 2012 at 10 South Main Street inside the former Bank of America building after renovating the inside of the building.

With council’s nod, The sault joins a growing list of eateries in the borough with permission to have outdoor dining - the Yardley Inn, Canal Street Grille, The Continental Tavern and Rosa Tratoria Bianca as eateries that offer customers the option of dining outside.

James Cain, who has been working with council and RWKHU ERURuJK RIfiFLDOV IRU OHVV than three months on the plan, said he hopes that the outdoor dining area will be open for business in June or July. He plans on having 30 seats and 14 tables located on the deck and covered by a pergola.

Cain said it “feels great” nRw WKDW KH KDV WKH RIfiFLDO nod of approval from borough council. “It’s been a long proFHVV VLnFH wH fiUVW GHVLJnHG the space,” he said after the meeting.

“It’s great to know that the borough is behind us and that we have the support of our continued growth and expansion in this way,” Cain said.

He said business is great at the sault. “We’re trying to increase the customer experience and add value,” he said.

The Historical Architectural Review Board (HARBF recommended that council approve the Cain’s application, but did not favor adding the domelike awnings above the windows.

“We are in an historic bank building and they wanted to see that preserved,” Cain said of HARB’s decision.

But Cain said the sunlight streaming through the windows makes it uncomfortable for patrons to sit in some areas of the brew house at certain times of the day.

Main Street attorney Tom CDGwDOODGHU, wKRVH RIfiFH LV near The sault building on the same side of the street, said he understands the need to block the sunlight noting that in another building on South Main Street it feels like you’re in a greenhouse.

Cadwallader pointed out that the nearby Yardley Pizza has had awnings for years.

The awnings at the sault, he said, “will look really great … They will look very nice for Yardley.”

The sault building is on the National Register of Historic Buildings, like others in the borough.

Cain equpped came with to council research he had done on awnings in other historic districts. He showed color pictures of other banks in historic districts, includine one located in Washington, D.C.

Councilman Mike Ruttle, the chairman of the Community Development Committee, voiced support for the awnings.

“This is an historic building; however, it is being utilized as an adapted use.” He said because of the light, patrons may be inconvenienced and have to move to another table.

Ruttle said that Cain had worked with the borough in good faith.

“There is no indication that Mr. Cain is trying to stretch the rules,” he said.

HARB considered the entire project’s proposed physical improvements: the addition of a deck, awning, signs, fencing, chairs, umbrellas and sandwich board signs for parking. The application went to the planning commission twice for conceptual review and to the zoning hearing board, where four variances were granted.

The sault’s plan calls for an outdoor dining area on the north side of the building between The sault and its next door neighbor, Yardley Jewelers.

The zoning hearing board has already granted variances, including one for the use of A-frame signs to indicate that parking is available in the rear of the building, at the MakefiHOG AJHnFy DW 19 6RuWK 0DLn Street and in Buttonwood Park near the tot lot playground. The sault will have a total of ST parking spaces, which meets the requirements.

Mike Mueller, zoning offiFHU, VDLG WKH nHxW VWHS IRU the Cains is to prepare their plans to satisfy the borough FRnVWUuFWLRn RIfiFLDO, wKR UHviews building permits for the borough.

“The plans will be more detailed and structurally-oriented than what was previously submitted,” Mueller said. “They’re ready to go to cred Khun for his review as the FRnVWUuFWLRn RIfiFLDO.”