By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Putter's Tavern & Grill in Liberty Township expanded last year, and has become so popular its parking lot is overflowing. (Enquirer file photo) | ZOOM |

LIBERTY TWP. - Township officials said Tuesday they are confident a popular tavern's parking problems will be worked out soon.

Jan Collins, owner of Putter's Tavern & Grill on Cincinnati-Dayton Road, pledged that the business would not let in more customers than its 219-person capacity, acting Township Administrator Barry Tiffany said.

During a private meeting Tuesday, Collins also told officials she is having a pedestrian bridge installed that will link a parking lot next to the business with the bar's small lot in the front.

The bridge, combined with restricting the number of customers, should alleviate the problem of cars and pedestrians spilling out onto Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Tiffany said.

"The owner was extremely cooperative," he said. "We will be able to reach resolution with this in a very friendly manner."

In the meantime, the township will continue conducting spot checks at the bar, he added, and the Butler County Sheriff's Office will ticket or tow customers who park along the road in a hazardous or improper manner.

Since it opened two years ago just north of the Michael A. Fox Highway, Putter's has done good business. But since the tavern doubled late last year to 5,000 square feet, neighboring business owners have complained the bar was letting in more people than permitted.

They also griped to trustees last week that customers' vehicles were parking along Cincinnati-Dayton Road, tearing up yards, or in their business lots, blocking equipment.

"My fear is someone is going to get killed getting in or out of their car," Trustee Bob Shelley said Tuesday.

Collins did not immediately return a call for comment Tuesday after the meeting, but she recently told the Enquirer she had worked out an arrangement for her customers to park in a vacant lot across the street from her bar.

But the township prohibited that before it happened, Tiffany said, because it would have violated zoning codes.

Business owners who complained about Putter's said Tuesday they were relieved the township was addressing the issue.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com