Alfresco dining is coming to downtown Sycamore.

The Sycamore City Council approved a building permit to allow Paul and John Schwartz, owners of PJ’s Courthouse Tavern and Grille, 202 W. State St., to build an outdoor dining area along the east wall of the restaurant.

Reconstruction of South Maple Street widened the sidewalk, creating the opportunity for the PJ’s expansion.

Third Ward Alderman Andrew Larson said his primary concern was public drinking on Sycamore’s main thoroughfare.

The two owners said they would not have live music or allow people to drink without being seated at a table. Food sales account for more than half of their revenue, they said.

In other council action, debate arose over the development of a 12.4 acre plot of land intended for commercial sale on Aberdeen Court off of Bethany Road. Sycamore’s building codes provide that a commercial building must be set back from the road at least 50 feet.

“We created an extra-deep setback to create a campus-style look,” said City Manager Bill Nicklas.

Standard commercial buildings would not fit on the plots without breaking city code, but the council decided to allow a 10-foot front encroachment to increase the land’s marketability.

The council also considered, but did not vote on, raising City Clerk Candy Smith’s annual salary by $6,400 to $45,900. It has been 16 years since the last raise for this position.

Fourth Ward Alderman Janice Tripp said she is surprised anyone still runs for the office, given it is a full-time job.

“She has been doing a good job. I feel she deserves it,” said Herman Hansen, a Sycamore resident and former co-worker of Smith.

Sycamore Fire Chief Bill Riddle announced the return of firefighter Bill Reynolds after he was injured in the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church fire in February.

“He has a courage and attitude we all look forward to,” Riddle said.