Pizza Joint may add outdoor dining area

The Aiken Design Review Board has granted its approval for an outdoor dining area to be added at The Pizza Joint, located on Richland Avenue.

Restaurant owner Michael Schepis said the addition of more outdoor seating at the restaurant would be nice for downtown during events such as the Lobster Races.

"We thought it would be nice to fence that area in, add some tables, and create an ambience," he said.

The dining area would be enclosed within a four-foot black steel fence. The fence would stretch along the front of Richland Avenue and on Newberry Street.

Schepis also asked the board to approve a new sign that would be hung from a pole that resembled a tree. Several DRB members were not very keen on the proposed sign, questioning how it would fit in downtown and asked Schepis to come back at a later meeting with more ideas.

"I think your tree would be great or not so great," said board member Lucy Knowles. Schepis agreed, saying he is open to new ideas.

In other action, the Aiken Design Review Board:

*Approved the request for additions and renovations at 542 Palmetto Lane

*Approved the request for a dormer on the east side of the building at 223 Park Ave. S.E.

*Approved the a request for new windows at 927 Hayne Ave. S.W.

Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.