Representatives from Liberty Entertainment Group, which is trying to renovate and reopen the Country Club of Coral Gables, will meet with residents Tuesday to quell concerns about a proposed cafe and restaurant with outdoor seating in the residential neighborhood surrounding the club.

Coral Gables commissioners recently asked Nick Di Donato, the company's president, to meet with the residents about the club, 997 N. Greenway Dr.

``I am willing to reconsider my position as long as the neighborhood is behind it,'' Mayor Don Slesnik said. ``But right now there are a lot of concerns.''

Slesnik lives on North Greenway Drive, a few houses away from the club. He and Vice Mayor Bill Kerdyk approved Liberty's proposed upgrades, without the outdoor seating.

Commissioners Maria Anderson and Wayne ``Chip'' Withers voted against the measure, as they wanted the outdoor seating on a trial basis.

``I feel this operator has stepped up to come up with some novel ideas that will make the country club succeed,'' Withers said in an interview.

Commissioner Ralph Cabrera recused himself from the vote because he said he had communications with Di Donato between the first and second reading of the proposed measure. Under Florida's Jennings Rule, elected officials cannot discuss a topic in between first and second hearings with applicants.

Di Donato said the residents will see where the seating would be and sample the paninis and cappuccinos the cafe would offer.

The outdoor seating proposal has drawn concerns from residents who feel that an outdoor café is not a proper use for a residential street.

``It is totally inconsistent with a residential neighborhood,'' said frequent critic of the city administration Vincent Damian, who lives on North Greenway.

Damian also criticized a recent letter sent by the city to homeowners giving notice of the meeting. The letter explained Liberty's plans and the recent actions taken by two city boards, which recommended the project.

``It was propaganda,'' Damian said.

Assistant City Manager Maria Alberro Jimenez said the planning department crafted the letter with input from the city manager's office to ``let people know what was going on.''

``We have not received any complaints from the public,'' Jimenez said Friday.

But some residents say that they want to see something done to resurrect the club, which has been closed since April 2008 after the previous owner failed to pay rent payments. Lawsuits with the city are pending.

``It has been a disaster,'' said George Volsky, who lives a few houses away from the club and is also a frequent critic of city administration.

``We finally have someone in there that wants to do something good and we are not letting him do it.''

Di Donato has compromised. The company's proposal originally called for 40 outdoor seats in the cafe and 68 seats in the restaurant. It reduced the outdoor seating to 32 seats for the café and 48 for the restaurant and at the last commission meeting asked for an 18-month trial period.

Commissioners deadlocked 2-2, with Cabrera recusing. They agreed to reconsider the matter after Liberty met with the residents.

``No smart business person would agree to spend money on something on a trial basis if he didn't really believe that it would work,'' Di Donato said.

``What is the downside of giving it a try?''

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